Mauritanian abolitionist Abdel-Nasser Ould Ethmane describes his journey from privileged slave owner to staunch abolitionist and human rights defender. He explains how his first experience living away from his family sparked a desire to educate himself about his country’s history of slavery and dedicate his life to eradicating the practice. Ould Ethmane recounts howhis organization, SOS Slaves, contributed to the Mauritanian government eventually criminalizing the practice of slavery in 2007. However, a 2008 coup d’etat has threatened the fragile freedom of the country’s former slaves, and Ould Ethmane appeals to the international community to continue supporting the right of all Mauritanians to live in freedom.