Mauritania participates in the Frst UN International Conference on Enforced Disappearances
Geneva
The First International Conference on Enforced Disappearances, organized by the United Nations, kicked off on Wednesday morning in Geneva, Switzerland, in the presence of the Commissioner for Human Rights, Humanitarian Action and Relations with Civil Society, Mr. Sid’ Ahmed Ely Benane.
The two-day conference aims to strengthen international efforts to combat enforced disappearances and give impetus to collective action by bringing together key actors and mobilizing States Parties to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance to make voluntary commitments for the effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention.
During the high-level opening session, the Commissioner delivered a speech on the legal and institutional measures taken by Mauritania in the framework of the fight against enforced disappearance, reviewing the main achievements of our country and the voluntary commitments adopted in this field.
Among the measures adopted by the Mauritanian government to combat enforced disappearance are the publication of the International Convention for the Protection of Persons from Enforced Disappearance in the Official Gazette, making it directly applicable and taking precedence over national laws, in accordance with article 80 of the Constitution; the promulgation and improvement of several laws on combating torture, protecting personal data, criminalizing discrimination, combating trafficking in persons and combating the smuggling of migrants; the establishment and activation of the national mechanism for the prevention of torture, in accordance with the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, in addition to the National Human Rights Commission and the authority for the protection of the rights of the disappeared.
Achievements in this area also include the adoption of the National Strategy for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights; the operation of an online portal to receive complaints against police officers and reports of unethical behavior; and increased oversight of places of detention, while promoting the rights and dignity of inmates.
The Commissioner presented a set of commitments through which our country aims to strengthen efforts to combat enforced disappearance, including preparing an action plan to implement the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, taking the necessary measures to criminalize it and ensure the protection of the rights of victims; conducting awareness campaigns to counter stereotypes and discriminatory practices; strengthening the capacities of officials, especially judges, lawyers and law enforcement agents on the crime of enforced disappearance; promoting constructive dialogue with the international community and contributing effectively to the achievement of justice for all.