37th Universal Periodic Review: UK statement on Mauritania

The United Kingdom recognises Mauritania’s commitment to improving access to education at the primary and secondary level. We urge the Government to ensure that girls’ equal access to twelve years quality education is at the forefront of their efforts in this regard.

We note Mauritania’s cooperation with the UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations to provide protection for refugees and migrants.

We recommend that Mauritania:

1. Increases efforts to end all forms of slavery and discrimination, especially based on caste or ethnicity, and investigates and prosecutes traffickers and those holding people in slavery.

2. Adheres to existing international frameworks to protect migrants and refugees, including those attempting to travel to the Canary Islands who land in Mauritania.

3. Adopt an open, merit-based process when selecting national candidates for UN Treaty Body elections.

Thank you.