An anti-slavery law with teeth—I hope
Mauritania yesterday announced a new law against slavery—the third time such a law has been passed. However, this time (unlike the other times) you can go to jail for keeping slaves—and you can also be charged with a crime for knowing about a situation of 
enslavement and not reporting it.
Will this work? We’ll see.
The key issue seems to be economic. Not that slavery is just about economics—but it has been the case that up till now, Mauritania’s program for the poor has consisted of an under-the-table régime of slavery that has persisted despite being outlawed multiple times in the past. As slaves, the poorest no longer count as functioning members of society, and thus do not pose an economic problem to the country.
The key thing is going to be the establishment of effective programs to help Mauritania’s poor. Failing that, the feeling is that the anti-slavery laws will continue to exist unenforced, like they have the last three times. The Guardian, a British publication, has a good, informed take on the situation there.
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