In accordance with UNPO’s goal to raise the voice of the unrepresented and marginalized communities worldwide, this  alternative report aims at evaluating compliance with and implementation of the provisions of the Convention by the  Mauritanian government with regard to the particular case of the Haratin community.

The report highlights the persistence of various forms of slavery to which Haratin women are particularly susceptible, due  to both their belonging to the “slaves’ caste” and the mere fact that they are women. Despite successive attempts to  abolish the practice of slavery in 1905 and 1981, as well as the criminalization of slavery through a 2007 Anti-Slavery law, an  estimated 20%1  of the Mauritanian population – the vast majority of Haratin – are still enslaved today. 

In accordance with UNPO’s goal to raise the voice of the unrepresented and marginalized communities worldwide, this alternative report aims at evaluating compliance with and implementation of the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women by the Mauritanian government with regard to the particular case of the Haratin community.  

The report highlights the persistence of various forms of slavery to which Haratin women are particularly susceptible, due to both their belonging to the “slaves’ caste” and the mere fact that they are women. Despite successive attempts to abolish the practice of slavery in 1905 and 1981, as well as the criminalization of slavery through a 2007 Anti-Slavery law, an estimated 20% of the Mauritanian population – the vast majority of Haratin – are still enslaved today. 

Haratin women are among the most vulnerable members of Mauritanian society and are therefore at greater risk of discrimination. For instance, women slaves are tacitly allowed to be sexually abused by their masters, and some of the parts of their bodies can be sold or rented out. 

The alternative report concluded with the following recommendations to the government of Mauritania: 

Official recognition of the situation faced by female slaves: 

• Officially recognize the situation currently faced by Haratin women in terms of violations of their human rights and fundamental freedoms  
• Conduct a study to collect more data about enslaved women in Mauritania
• Officially recognize the Haratin as a constituent national group of Mauritania 

Improvement of justice mechanisms: 

• Train competent judges so that they are aware of the criminal nature of rape, sexual, physical and psychological abuse 
• Create a mechanism aimed at guaranteeing the application of the 2007 Anti-Slavery Law, and ensure all breeches of this law undergo investigation 
• Empower women to fully enjoy their status as equal rights holders through sensitization and education programs 
• Increase efforts to investigate and prosecute trafficking and exploitation of prostitution of women, in particular enslaved women

Adoption of adequate laws in the interest of women:

• Cancel the provisions of the 2001 Family Code stating that women are legally considered to be perpetual minors
• Ratify the ILO Domestic Workers Convention in order to ensure women are legally protected from current slave like working conditions
• Incorporate in the Constitution or other appropriate legislation all such crimes, including rape, to which women are particularly susceptible of falling victim, and provide for appropriate sanctions
• Establish a mechanism, policy of affirmative action, exclusively targeting currently or formerly enslaved Haratin women, through which to provide them with a facilitated access to education, employment, bank loans, microcredit programs and justice. 
• Revise the 2003 law against human trafficking and set up a Law enforcement unit to make sure it is properly im-plemented

Eradication of stereotypes and prejudices via awareness campaigns:

• Implement education programs aimed at raising awareness of the issue of slavery and its gender dimension, among Mauritanian children 
• Collect precise data on prostitution and on the most vulnerable populations towards prostitution
• Implement nationwide gender sensitizing campaigns and programs 

Empowerment through education:

• Enable equal access to education to all girls, regardless of their belonging to the ‘slaves’ caste’  
• Initiate education and training programs aimed at raising awareness among rural women of their legal rights 

Empowerment through economy: 

• Capitalize on the emerging field of microcredit by creating specific programs for former female slaves 
• Coordinate with civil society to set up relevant services to protect and empower victims to access the legal labor market
• Facilitate the access of Haratin women to a broader range of employment, in both rural and urban areas
• Implement incentive programs to facilitate women’s, especially former slaves’, access to the labor market 

Assistance and support: 

• Coordinate with civil society to implement support services for former female slaves in rural areas
• Coordinate with civil society to assist newly-freed female slaves in their search for jobs and to provide them with relevant workshops and vocational trainings

To learn more, read the report here.