The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants commends Mauritania’s efforts in migration management and refugee protection
Genève
Mauritania took part in the interactive dialogue organized as part of the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, on Monday in Geneva, dedicated to the review of the report by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Mr. Jihad Madi, following his visit to Mauritania last September.
In his presentation of the report, the Special Rapporteur commended the Mauritanian government’s efforts towards the rational management of immigration, notably through its openness towards refugees, its cooperation with United Nations agencies and its ongoing efforts in the areas of search and rescue, as well as the fight against migrant smuggling. He also commended Mauritania’s commitment to managing migration through an approach based on respect for human rights.
For his part, the Commissioner for Human Rights, Humanitarian Action and Relations with Civil Society, Mr. Sid’Ahmed Ely Benane, welcomed the report’s content, which commends the national efforts made in the field of protecting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, emphasizing that this recognition reflects the State’s firm commitment to adopting a balanced humanitarian approach that takes human dignity into account and respects international obligations.
He pointed out that Mauritania, despite the challenges posed by its geographical location and the growing pressures resulting from security and humanitarian crises in the Sahel region, continues to fulfil its humanitarian responsibilities, as it hosts more than 400,000 refugees, most of whom are from the Republic of Mali, and provides protection and assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations.
Mr. Sid’Ahmed Ely Benane also outlined the efforts made by Mauritania, in recent years to strengthen its legal and institutional framework in the areas of immigration, asylum, and the fight against human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants, notably through the establishment of specialized national mechanisms for the protection and support of victims, as well as through the strengthening of monitoring, redress and prevention mechanisms.
In response to certain observations made in the report, the Mauritanian delegation emphasised the importance of relying on official data and verified facts in order to ensure a balanced and objective picture of the reality of immigration in the country, whilst emphasizing that the management of migration flows is carried out in accordance with national legislation and relevant international obligations, with due regard for legal safeguards and humanitarian considerations in all measures taken.
During the interactive exchange, the Commissioner reaffirmed Mauritania’s rejection of all forms of discrimination and ill-treatment, as well as its commitment to continuing to strengthen mechanisms for the protection and equitable treatment of migrants and the most vulnerable groups.
He concluded his remarkes emphasizing Mauritania’s commitment to constructive and open cooperation with the Special Rapporteur and all United Nations human rights mechanisms, considering that this dialogue served as a model of positive partnership based on trust and mutual respect, and that it contributed to the development of national policies and the strengthening of human rights protection.