Mauritania

Status: public or civil society discussions

In Mauritania, there is no national protection mechanism for human rights defenders (HRDs or defenders). The subject is being discussed by civil society actors and, to a lesser extent, by national authorities. In the meantime, the situation of human rights defenders in Mauritania remains worrisome.

Mauritania is monitored through the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. However, the current and previous rapporteurs have not yet visited the country. Mauritania is monitored through annual thematic reports published by the Special Rapporteur, such as this report. Mauritania is also examined through the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa. It is one of the few countries that has been monitored by the Special Rapporteur, even though the last document published on Mauritania was a mission report in 2016[1] and several press releases (in 2010, 2013, in 2016).

Mauritania is also monitored by the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). During the last UPR session in 2021, Mauritania received and accepted several recommendations regarding the protection of human rights defenders. In the 2021 UPR report, Mauritania expressed their support for the development of a pending bill on the freedom of civil society organisations (CSOs). This bill, also referred to as Law on Associations, Foundations, and Networks, is presented as an effort for supporting CSOs. Civil society, however, has criticised it for not meeting international standards. Until today, no concrete steps have been taken by Mauritania to improve the protection of human rights defenders.

The CIVICUS monitor 2022 classifies Mauritania as “repressed”, meaning that “civic space is significantly constrained”. The 2022 Freedom House Index labels Mauritania has “partly free”. The main concerns are about restrictions on the freedom of expression. One example is the Cybercrime bill that was introduced in 2016, through which defenders and journalists can be prosecuted for disseminating “politically sensitive content” over the internet (Frontline Defenders, 2020).

[1] This report is not available online. We are attempting to obtain the document. If you have more information, please send an e-mail to focus@protectioninternational.org