In Banjul: Mauritania Reaffirms its Commitment to Promoting and Protecting Human Rights

The Assistant Commissioner for Human Rights, Humanitarian Action and Relations with Civil Society, Mr Al-Hadrami Ould Waddad Mahmoud, affirmed Mauritania’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights as a strategic choice stemming from a clear political will, based on strengthening the rule of law, consolidating civil peace, and upholding rights and freedoms.

Speaking on behalf of our country at the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, held yesterday, Monday, in the Gambian capital, Banjul, he added that Mauritania adopts a comprehensive approach which considers security and human rights to be complementary and non-contradictory paths, noting that this approach has enabled the country to achieve tangible results in the area of stability, whilst upholding respect for the rule of law and strengthening justice institutions.

He highlighted the national efforts made as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (2024–2028), particularly in the areas of integrating a human rights approach into public policies, strengthening the effectiveness of national institutions, upholding the principles of transparency and accountability, and supporting vulnerable groups, especially women, children and young people.

He said that Mauritania, by virtue of its geographical location as a transit country, adopts a balanced approach based on combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks, ensuring the protection of migrants’ rights, and respecting the principle of non-refoulement. He emphasised that migration management is a shared responsibility requiring international and African cooperation based on burden-sharing and addressing the root causes of migration.

He reaffirmed Mauritania’s commitment to continuing positive engagement with African human rights mechanisms and to working with fellow African nations to build a strong, fair and balanced African system that meets the aspirations of African peoples for dignity, justice and development.