Delivered at Mauritania's Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
We welcome Mauritania's continued engagement with the UPR process, as well as: efforts to strengthen access to education (particularly for girls); measures to address slavery and human trafficking; and collaboration with humanitarian partners.
We recommend that Mauritania:
Continues advancing the rights of women and girls by implementing legislation on gender-based violence and ensuring access to justice and survivor-centred services. Legalisation on gender-based violence would reaffirm the Government's commitment.
Increases efforts to eradicate slavery and discrimination, including hereditary and descent-based slavery, by strengthening investigations, prosecutions and accountability, ensuring fair and equal access to descendants and providing effective support for victims.
Strengthens judicial protection for migrants and asylum seekers by adhering to international frameworks, ensuring humane treatment, due process safeguards, access to asylum procedures and protection from refoulement.
Thank you.
