Useful Information
|
|
|
Calendar of Events |
|
|
Publications |
|
|
|
|
Background |
|
On 22 September 2009, an Agreement was signed between OHCHR and the Government of Mauritania to establish the OHCHR Country Office in Nouakchott. On 9 December 2010, the Office was officially inaugurated. Since its establishment, the Office has undertaken a large number of activities in the areas of monitoring the human rights situation, offering technical assistance to the Government, promoting human rights mainly in the fight against slavery, and following up on the reform of the justice system. The Office is staffed with three internationals and four nationals. The High Commissioner visited Mauritania from 26 to 29 April 2011 to underscore the relevance of the Office’s establishment and the seriousness with which the Office intends to address the thematic priorities in Mauritania.
|
|
2012-2013 Programme |
|
Based on the priorities identified by the Country Office, the Sahel Regional strategy and in light of the large influx of Malian refugees as well as the general human rights situation in Mauritania, the Country Office in Mauritania will focus on the strengthening of the rule of law and protection of human rights taking into consideration the degrading humanitarian situation; the worsening nutritional crisis in the country; and the impact of the rising level of insecurity in the Sahel. The Office will also aim to combat impunity and strengthen accountability, the rule of law, and democratic societies and seek to strengthen economic, social and cultural rights. The selection of these priority areas has been made while taking into account the preliminary assessment of the human rights situation by OHCHR and based on a more specific sector analysis and the assessment of the recommendations by human rights mechanisms such as UN treaty bodies, Human Rights Council’s special procedures and the Universal Periodic Review.
The Mauritania Office is supporting a number of reforms including constitutional, policy and institutional and is seeking to increase compliance and engagement of Mauritania with UN Human Rights and international human rights mechanisms; increase ratification of international human rights instruments and removal of existing reservations; increase number of measures taken to improve legal recourse mechanisms especially for vulnerable and marginalized groups. Throughout its various activities, the Office is supporting the Mauritanian authorities, civil society organizations (CSOs), National Human Rights Institution and other relevant actors in the building of an effective national human rights protection system, including through the provision of technical cooperation, training, and advocacy. This role is undertaken with an inclusive approach that ensures the participation of all stakeholders, in close cooperation with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT). Alongside much-needed capacity-building activities, the Office undertakes regular monitoring and reporting activities on a host of human rights issues.
|
|
Expected Accomplishments |
|
The Mauritania Country Office aims to fulfill the following achievements by the end of 2013: increase ratification of international human rights instruments; increase number of measures taken to contribute to the fulfillment of economic, social and cultural rights by individuals and groups facing discrimination; increase the Government of Mauritania's compliance with their obligations under the human rights mechanisms and bodies; increase number and diversity of rights-holders, and of national civil society actors; strengthen compliance with United Nations and regional human rights mechanisms and bodies; increase responsiveness to migrants' rights and strengthen the human rights-based approach into the policies and programmes of the UN Country Team. | |
|
|
|
|