Events will take place in the moughataas (neighborhoods) of El Mina, Sebkha, Dar-Naim, Arafat and Riyadh.
“This awareness week aims to combat violence in these suburbs of Nouakchott and promote the values ​of a
society in peace and without violence,” said Moustapha Bocoum, President of the Mauritanian Association
for a World Without Wars and Violence during the press conference introducing the event. “African
Integration is preached incessantly in the speeches of African Presidents. But, in real terms it is a different
matter,” added William Idioma , the President of the Organization African Integration (OAI), a member of
this caravan of awareness.

The popular revolutions (Arab spring) and what is at stake in a forthcoming election in the country that could
lead to violence, prompted the NGO “World Without Wars and Violence” and the Organization for African
Integration (OAI) to reflect on this social phenomenon and its various ramifications including at university
level.

As source of these events, these two associations decided to promote a focus group composed of teachers,
administrators, journalists, artists and resources people on the topic of “Nonviolence” in order to fight
violence of all kinds (physical, economic, socio-religious violence) which are taking alarming proportions in
the capital Nouakchott. The approach consists of being in touch with young people and citizens to explain
the disasters of this scourge and the need to promote a peaceful society.

What defines this project ultimately is not a specific political, social or even a plain cultural action but a
simple set of ideas and a style of behaviour that World Without Wars and Violence, wants to convey and
instil in both the population of Nouakchott and within the country at large. These awareness days will be also
characterized by cleaning measures and incentives to use local products.
“World Without Wars and Violence” has existed for 10 years, capitalizing on well tested expertise in the
field of combating violence. In November 2009, it organized several events to mark the passage of the World
March for Peace and Non-Violence, mobilizing more than a thousand people, among them, youth, women,
policy makers, opinion formers and many others.