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The UN special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Gehad Madi, concluded a ten-day visit to Mauritania and commended the government’s legislative progress on Friday while warning that persistent human rights violations against migrants continue to place the country at odds with its international legal obligations.
“I commend the Mauritanian Government for addressing migration challenges, notably through the adoption of laws against trafficking and migrant smuggling, the establishment of reception centres, and by strengthening search and rescue operations at sea,” said Madi.
Madi’s mission, conducted from September 2 to 12, included meetings with national and regional authorities, civil society organizations, migrant community representatives, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners. He also visited migrant reception and detention facilities in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and observed three emergency disembarkations in which more than 300 migrants, including women and children, were rescued and assisted. The special rapporteur praised the Mauritanian government’s swift response to these incidents and its constructive openness to dialogue throughout his visit.
The expert acknowledged important reforms in recent years, including the 2020 adoption of an anti-trafficking law, the creation of specialized tribunals and a national body to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, as well as the establishment of four reception centers for migrants. He also welcomed the government’s cooperation with international partners such as UNHCR, IOM, and Spain’s Guardia Civil in maritime search-and-rescue operations, which have saved thousands of lives along Mauritania’s Atlantic coast.
Despite these advances, the special rapporteur stressed that a wide gap remains between Mauritania’s legal frameworks and their practical implementation. Testimonies from migrants revealed patterns of arbitrary arrests, confiscation of documents, prolonged detention in overcrowded and inadequate facilities, and collective expulsions carried out within 72 hours without judicial review or access to legal aid. He noted with concern that migrants fleeing conflict in Mali, Sudan, and elsewhere have been deported without an assessment of their protection needs. “These expulsions violate not only Mauritania’s commitments under international law but also its own declared policy of non-refoulement,” Madi said.
From a legal perspective, the practices documented during the visit raise serious concerns under multiple binding treaties. The principle of non-refoulement, enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Convention against Torture, prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution or ill-treatment. Collective expulsions, carried out without individualized assessment, contravene Article 13 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which requires that each person be afforded due process before removal.
The special rapporteur was particularly troubled by the treatment of women and children, citing accounts of sexual abuse, family separation during deportations, and the detention of minors in poor conditions. These practices may breach Mauritania’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), both of which Mauritania has ratified.
The special rapporteur urged the government to adopt a comprehensive asylum law with strong procedural safeguards, to halt collective expulsions, and to establish independent oversight bodies to investigate abuses by security forces. He also called for simplifying the residence permit process, strengthening judicial oversight of migrant detention, and introducing gender-sensitive protections to preserve family unity and safeguard children.
Madi appealed to the international community, particularly the European Union, to ensure that cooperation agreements prioritize human rights over securitization. He further recommended financial and technical support for UN agencies and civil society organizations, which play a critical role in assisting migrants and monitoring abuses.
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“I commend the Mauritanian Government for addressing migration challenges, notably through the adoption of laws against trafficking and migrant smuggling, the establishment of reception centres, and by strengthening search and rescue operations at sea,” said Madi.
Madi’s mission, conducted from September 2 to 12, included meetings with national and regional authorities, civil society organizations, migrant community representatives, UN agencies, and humanitarian partners. He also visited migrant reception and detention facilities in Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and observed three emergency disembarkations in which more than 300 migrants, including women and children, were rescued and assisted. The special rapporteur praised the Mauritanian government’s swift response to these incidents and its constructive openness to dialogue throughout his visit.
The expert acknowledged important reforms in recent years, including the 2020 adoption of an anti-trafficking law, the creation of specialized tribunals and a national body to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling, as well as the establishment of four reception centers for migrants. He also welcomed the government’s cooperation with international partners such as UNHCR, IOM, and Spain’s Guardia Civil in maritime search-and-rescue operations, which have saved thousands of lives along Mauritania’s Atlantic coast.
Despite these advances, the special rapporteur stressed that a wide gap remains between Mauritania’s legal frameworks and their practical implementation. Testimonies from migrants revealed patterns of arbitrary arrests, confiscation of documents, prolonged detention in overcrowded and inadequate facilities, and collective expulsions carried out within 72 hours without judicial review or access to legal aid. He noted with concern that migrants fleeing conflict in Mali, Sudan, and elsewhere have been deported without an assessment of their protection needs. “These expulsions violate not only Mauritania’s commitments under international law but also its own declared policy of non-refoulement,” Madi said.
From a legal perspective, the practices documented during the visit raise serious concerns under multiple binding treaties. The principle of non-refoulement, enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Convention against Torture, prohibits the return of individuals to countries where they may face persecution or ill-treatment. Collective expulsions, carried out without individualized assessment, contravene Article 13 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which requires that each person be afforded due process before removal.
The special rapporteur was particularly troubled by the treatment of women and children, citing accounts of sexual abuse, family separation during deportations, and the detention of minors in poor conditions. These practices may breach Mauritania’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), both of which Mauritania has ratified.
The special rapporteur urged the government to adopt a comprehensive asylum law with strong procedural safeguards, to halt collective expulsions, and to establish independent oversight bodies to investigate abuses by security forces. He also called for simplifying the residence permit process, strengthening judicial oversight of migrant detention, and introducing gender-sensitive protections to preserve family unity and safeguard children.
Madi appealed to the international community, particularly the European Union, to ensure that cooperation agreements prioritize human rights over securitization. He further recommended financial and technical support for UN agencies and civil society organizations, which play a critical role in assisting migrants and monitoring abuses.
The post UN expert praises Mauritania legal reforms but raises concern over migrant rights abuses appeared first on JURIST - News.
Continue reading...
Note: We don't have any responsibilities about this news. Its been posted here by Feed Reader and we had no controls and checking on it. And because News posted here will be deleted automatically after 21 days, threads are closed so that no one spend time to post and discuss here. You can always check the source and discuss in their site.