Biram Dah Abeid

Biram Dah Abeid is a Mauritanian politician and advocate for the abolition of slavery. In 1981, Mauritania became the last country in the world to officially abolish slavery. In reality, though, ancient slave-owning practices remain intact. In 2008, Biram Dah Abeid founded the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement. His organization rescues people from slavery and helps them build their lives. In 2013, the activist received the UN Human Rights Prize in honor of his human rights work.