Acknowledgements

This report was researched and authored by Matthew Wells, a fellow in the Africa Division at Human Rights Watch. It was reviewed and edited by Corinne Dufka, senior West Africa researcher; Lois Whitman, children’s rights director; Clive Baldwin, senior legal advisor; and Andrew Mawson, deputy director of the Program Office. Thomas Gilchrist, senior associate in the Africa Division, provided editorial and production coordination. The report was translated into French by Françoise Denayer and Olivier Ervyn, and into Portuguese by Diana Tarre. Vetting for a faithful translation into French was provided by Thomas Gilchrist and Peter Huvos, French website editor; and into Portuguese by Lisa Rimli, researcher in the Africa Division. John Emerson designed the map. The report was prepared for publication by Grace Choi, publications director; Anna Lopriore, creative manager; and Fitzroy Hepkins, mail manager.

Human Rights Watch expresses its gratitude to all of the organizations and individuals who contributed to this research, including: Isabelle de Guillebon and her colleagues at Samusocial Senegal; Issa Kouyate, president of Maison de la Gare; Malam Baio, president of SOS Talibé Children; Miss Joanita, of the Association of the Friends of Children; Mame Couna Thioye, the program coordinator on children’s rights at Rencontre africaine pour la defense des droits de l’homme(RADDHO); Mamadou Ndiaye, a Senegalese scholar on Quranic schools who provided insight into the practice’s history; and Ibrahim Diallo, who served as a translator throughout Guinea-Bissau. Many others have asked to remain anonymous given the sensitivity of work on the talibé issue in Senegal, but their contributions are duly appreciated.

Human Rights Watch particularly thanks the families, Quranic teachers, and, most of all, the talibés themselves who were willing to share their stories.