The ISBA is among bar associations co-hosting a free reception in Chicago Monday, February 13, for two world-recognized anti-slavery leaders, Biram Abeid and Brahim Randhame of Mauritania, West Africa. Abeid and Randhame have led the fight against slavery in Mauritania, which did not criminalize the practice until 2007 and whose weak anti-slavery laws are seldom enforced. Slavery in Mauritania is race- and descent-based and is chillingly similar to that in the antebellum United States.

The reception will be from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Latham & Watkins LLC Conference Center at 330 N. Wabash #2800 (find out more and RSVP here) and will raise funds to help combat slavery in Mauritania. The legal community is partnering with the Chicago-based Abolition Institute to host the event. For more information contact Sean@StoppingSlavery.org.