WUNRN
Mariama Walet Abdourhamane is a
representative of the Touareg community of
© OHCHR
The Touareg from
The Touareg are nomads, experts at living in the desert.
They move constantly to find pastures for their animals making it difficult to
accurately assess their numbers. Nonetheless, they are estimated to be about
1.2 million people.
Mariama is involved in many projects in her community. One
of them aims to help her people to “preserve its cultural identity while
participating in the political and economical life of the country”. Because
they are nomads, the Touareg community is not represented in the Mali
Government, which makes it difficult for their interests to be given sufficient
weight. Mariama believes that the Touareg are denied their basic rights. “Activities
on human rights issues concerning the Touareg may be considered as a desire of
independence or rebellion”, she says.
In the Touareg community, the mothers educate the children.
There are no text books: education for the Touareg is a purely oral tradition.
Mariama’s organization, Tin Hinan
When she returns to her desert community, Mariama plans to
raise awareness of the rights of indigenous peoples with a special focus on
children. She also has in mind what she describes as, “a form of tourism more
respectful of the environment and local life”. The Touareg’s constant contact
with nature makes environmental preservation a priority.
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