Advancing human rights in Mauritania

Mauritania became the last country in the world to outlaw the practice of slavery when an official decree of 1981 declared it non-existent. Nevertheless, the legacy of slavery has shaped Mauritania’s modern-day social structures and continues to limit citizens’ access to economic opportunity, education, and finance, as well as prospects for employment and promotion within the formal sector.

Progress was made to strengthen legal and court action against residual slavery practices; however, human rights organizations argue that antislavery legislations are not consistently enforced. The issue is complicated by social and economic factors, as well as inconsistent government engagement with civil society and abolitionist groups.

At this roundtable Dr Ahmed Salim Bouhbin discusses measures being taken by Mauritania’s National Human Rights Commission to strengthen the legal and institutional tools that can protect citizens’ rights, including against slavery and related practices and attitudes.

This event will be held in French and English with consecutive interpretation.