Child Labor and Forced Labor Reports
Mauritania
Minimal Advancement – Efforts Made but Continued Law that Delayed Advancement
In 2022, Mauritania made minimal advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. In February 2023, the government created the Instance Nationale, an organization mandated to combat hereditary slavery and human trafficking by coordinating cross-government efforts, cooperating with international partners, providing assistance to victims, maintaining a database of trafficking cases, and working with civil society organizations. However, despite new initiatives to address child labor, Mauritania is assessed as having made only minimal advancement because it continued to implement a law that delays advancement to eliminate child labor. Mauritania’s Civil Status Code requires a copy of the biological parents’ marriage license for children to obtain a birth certificate. As a result, children born out of wedlock and many Haratine and Sub-Saharan ethnic minority children, including those of slave descent, have been prevented from being registered at birth. Because birth certificates are required for enrollment in secondary school in Mauritania, children as young as age 12 cannot access education, making them more vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor. Children in Mauritania are subjected to the worst forms of child labor, including in indentured and hereditary slavery. Children also perform dangerous tasks in agriculture, particularly in herding cattle and goats. Research is needed on the prevalence of child labor in the country, and social programs are insufficient to adequately address the extent of the problem. In addition, the government did not publish comprehensive information about its labor law enforcement efforts.
Table 1 provides key indicators on children’s work and education in Mauritania. Data on some of these indicators are not available from the sources used in this report.
| Children | Age | Percent |
| Working (% and population) | 5 to 14 | 19.7 (Unavailable) |
| Attending School (%) | 5 to 14 | 68.3 |
| Combining Work and School (%) | 7 to 14 | 15.8 |
| Primary Completion Rate (%) | 72.9 |
Source for primary completion rate: Data from 2019, published by UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2023. (1)
Source for all other data: International Labor Organization's analysis of statistics from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2015 (MICS), 2015. (2)
Based on a review of available information, Table 2 provides an overview of children's work by sector and activity.
| Sector/Industry | Activity |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Herding† and caring for cattle, camels, goats, and sheep (3-8) |
| Harvesting fish and shrimp,† including accompanying fishermen on boats† and selling fish (3-5,8-12) | |
| Industry | Crushing gravel† (13) |
| Construction† (4,5) | |
| Services | Domestic work† (3,4,8,14,15) |
| Working as car mechanics,† painters, and carpenters† (4,8,13) | |
| Garbage scavenging (16) | |
| Street work, including vending, shoe shining,† begging,† and in the transportation sector (4,5,8,16) | |
| Categorical Worst Forms of Child Labor‡ | Forced begging,† sometimes as a result of criminal gang recruitment and coercion by Koranic teachers (4,5,8,17,18) |
| Commercial sexual exploitation, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (14,19,20) | |
| Use in illicit activities, including the production and transportation of drugs, sometimes as a result of human trafficking (16,19,21) | |
| Indentured and hereditary slavery (3-6,18,19,22) | |
| Forced labor in domestic work† (4,5,16,21) |
† Determined by national law or regulation as hazardous and, as such, relevant to Article 3(d) of ILO C. 182.
‡ Child labor understood as the worst forms of child labor per se under Article 3(a)–(c) of ILO C. 182.
Children in Mauritania, especially from the Haratine ethnic minority, continue to be exploited as slaves and endure slave-like practices, particularly in rural and remote areas of the country. (20,23) Some children are born into slavery; others are born free but remain in a dependent status and are forced to work with their parents for their former masters in exchange for food, money, and lodging. (9,14,19) Enslaved children herd animals, such as cattle and goats, and perform domestic labor. (4,5,12,19) Young girls from poor families of Haratine, Wolof, Halpulaar, and Soninké communities are sometimes forced to work as domestic servants in Mauritania's urban areas. (4) In Mauritania, it is a traditional practice to send children to Koranic teachers (marabouts) to receive an education. However, some Koranic teachers force their students (talibés) to beg on the streets for long hours and to surrender the money they have earned. (4,5,8,10,19,21,24)
In July 2022, Mauritania's National Assembly adopted the Education Reform Law, which aims to transition all students to public schools and end private education. The reforms unintentionally created a new barrier to education access by creating an overwhelming demand for public education, and a structural scarcity of adequate public-school buildings, qualified teachers, and textbooks, especially given that many school buildings continued to be used as emergency shelters after catastrophic flooding events. (8) The lack of school infrastructure and limited availability of teachers in rural areas also impedes access to education, which may increase children’s vulnerability to the worst forms of child labor. (4,15,25) In addition, children from families of slave descent, especially from the Haratine ethnic minority, face barriers to accessing education due to ethnic discrimination. (6,13,26) Furthermore, refugee children may have difficulty accessing education or finding available classrooms, which makes them particularly vulnerable to the worst forms of child labor. (7,13,19,25,27)
Mauritania has ratified most key international conventions concerning child labor (Table 3).
| Convention | Ratification |
| ILO C. 138, Minimum Age | ✓ |
| ILO C. 182, Worst Forms of Child Labor | ✓ |
| UN CRC | ✓ |
| UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict | |
| UN CRC Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography | ✓ |
| Palermo Protocol on Trafficking in Persons | ✓ |
The government has established laws and regulations related to child labor (Table 4). However, gaps exist in Mauritania’s legal framework to adequately protect children from the worst forms of child labor, including the compulsory education age being lower than the minimum age for work.
| Standard | Meets International Standards | Age | Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age for Work | Yes | 16 | Article 76 of the General Child Protection Code (28) |
| Minimum Age for Hazardous Work | Yes | 18 | Article 76 of the General Child Protection Code; Article 247 of the Labor Code (28,29) |
| Identification of Hazardous Occupations or Activities Prohibited for Children | Yes | Articles 76 and 77 of the General Child Protection Code; Article 4 of the List of Hazardous Work Forbidden to Children (28,30) | |
| Prohibition of Forced Labor | Yes | Articles 1, 3, and 4 of the 2003 Anti-Trafficking Law; Article 1 and 2 of the 2013 Law Against Slavery and Torture Crimes; the 2015 Bill modifying the Anti-Slavery Law; Article 54 of the Penal Protection Code for Children (31-34) | |
| Prohibition of Child Trafficking | Yes | Articles 1 and 3 of the 2003 Anti-Trafficking Law; Article 54 of the Penal Protection Code for Children; Articles 2 and 4 of the 2020 Law Regarding the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons and Victim Protection; Articles 18, 43, and 67 of the 2020 Law Regarding the Fight Against Migrant Trafficking (31,34-36) | |
| Prohibition of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children | Yes | Articles 72 and 76 of the General Child Protection Code; Article 1 of the 2003 Anti-Trafficking Law; Articles 24–26 of the Penal Protection Code for Children; Article 2 of the 2020 Law Regarding the Prevention and Suppression of Trafficking in Persons and Victim Protection (28,31,34,35) | |
| Prohibition of Using Children in Illicit Activities | Yes | Articles 3–5 and 14 of Law 93-37 on the Prohibition of Production, Trafficking, and Use of Drugs and Illicit Substances (37) | |
| Minimum Age for Voluntary State Military Recruitment | Yes | 18 | Article 7 of the 1962 Military Recruitment Law (38) |
| Prohibition of Compulsory Recruitment of Children by (State) Military | N/A* | ||
| Prohibition of Military Recruitment by Non-state Armed Groups | Yes | Article 43 of the Penal Protection Code for Children (34) | |
| Compulsory Education Age | Yes | 14 | Article 1 of the Basic Education Law (39) |
| Free Public Education | Yes | Article 1 of the Basic Education Law (39) |
* Country has no conscription (13)
The 2011-003 Civil Status Code requires a copy of the biological parents’ marriage license for children to obtain a birth certificate. (40) As a result, children born out of wedlock and many Haratine and Sub-Saharan ethnic minority children, including those of slave descent, have been prevented from being registered at birth. While students no longer need to possess birth certificates to take part in national examinations to obtain the Certificate of Primary Education Studies, birth certificates are still required to take exams necessary to enroll in secondary school. (4,7,8,12) As a result, many children as young as age 12 cannot access secondary education, making them more vulnerable to child labor. (5,6,14,16,18,41,42) Moreover, although all families are required to register children for birth certificates, research found that the civil registration process, which includes obtaining birth certificates, is confusing and time consuming. Applicants have faced additional hardship due to the closure of registration centers outside the capital, and a lack of training for registration center staff. (28,40) To address some of these challenges, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Childhood, and the Family (MASEF) and the National Child Protection Council work nationwide to identify cases of citizens—including children—who are unable to access birth certificates and provide them with the support needed to complete the registration process. (43) Mauritania also has a special committee to review cases of unregistered applicants and facilitate documentation processes for marginalized and vulnerable communities, including by conducting site visits to civil registration centers where they provide support to individuals with the civil registration process. (43,44) The government also continued to collaborate with UNHCR to issue birth certificates to Malian refugee children during the reporting period. (8)
The Labor Code allows children ages 12 and older to perform light work as long as it does not impede their school attendance, does not exceed 2 hours per day, and is authorized by the Ministry of Labor. (29) However, the Labor Code does not specify the activities in which light work may be permitted. (45) In addition, children in Mauritania are required to attend school only up to age 14. This leaves children ages 14 through 16 vulnerable to child labor because they are not required to attend school but are not legally allowed to work. (28,39)
The government has established institutional mechanisms for the enforcement of laws and regulations on child labor (Table 5). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate enforcement of their child labor laws.
| Organization/Agency | Role & Activities |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Labor and Professional Education’s Directorate of Labor and Inspection (MFTPMA) | Enforces labor laws and investigates labor code infractions, including violations related to minimum wage and hazardous work. (8,26) |
| Ministry of the Interior’s Special Brigade for Minors | Investigates crimes against children, including human trafficking, and monitors religious schools (mahadras) to ensure that children are not forced to beg on behalf of their teachers. Mainly operates in the capital, Nouakchott. (8,13,26,46) |
| Ministry of Justice (MOJ) | Responsible for enforcing Mauritania’s anti-slavery and anti-trafficking laws. The MOJ's Directorate of the Judiciary for the Protection of Children assists with the enforcement of child protection issues and oversees tribunals responsible for sentencing offenders. (8,13) Manages the anti-slavery courts, which prosecute crimes related to slavery, and provides free legal assistance to survivors, including children. Anti-slavery courts are located in Néma, Nouakchott, and Nouadhibou. (8,19,20,47) |
Labor Law Enforcement
In 2022, labor law enforcement agencies in Mauritania took actions to address child labor (Table 6). However, gaps exist within the operations of the Ministry of Labor and Professional Education’s Directorate of Labor and Inspection (MFTPMA) that may hinder adequate labor law enforcement, including insufficient allocation of financial resources.
| Overview of Labor Law Enforcement | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Inspectorate Funding | $33,300 (4) | $33,300 (8) |
| Number of Labor Inspectors | 233 (4) | 128 (8) |
| Mechanism to Assess Civil Penalties | Yes (29) | Yes (29) |
| Training for Labor Inspectors Provided | Yes (48) | Yes (8) |
| Number of Labor Inspections Conducted at Worksite | 570 (4) | 795 (8) |
| Number of Child Labor Violations Found | Unknown (4) | 0 (8) |
| Number of Child Labor Violations for Which Penalties Were Imposed | Unknown (4) | Unknown (8) |
| Number of Child Labor Penalties Imposed that Were Collected | Unknown (4) | Unknown (8) |
| Routine Inspections Conducted | Yes (4) | Yes (8) |
| Routine Inspections Targeted | Unknown (4) | Unknown (8) |
| Unannounced Inspections Permitted | Yes (29) | Yes (29) |
| Unannounced Inspections Conducted | Yes (4) | Yes (8) |
| Complaint Mechanism Exists | Yes (4) | Yes (8) |
| Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Labor Authorities and Social Services | Yes (4) | Yes (8) |
In 2022, the MFTPMA provided training to labor inspectors on the country's hazardous work list. (8) New inspectors also receive training on the Labor Code, child labor laws, and on all labor-related conventions the country has ratified. (49) Labor inspectors prepare reports when they find a labor violation and may include a recommendation for a penalty, but they are not allowed to assess penalties. However, inspectors must file labor violation reports with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the MOJ assesses the penalty for the violation. (4,12) Research found that the MFTPMA lacked equipment, training, transportation, and funding necessary to conduct inspections, especially in remote locations and in the informal sector, which employs more than 60 percent of the workforce. (4,8,50,51)
Criminal Law Enforcement
In 2022, criminal law enforcement agencies in Mauritania took actions to address child labor (Table 7). However, gaps exist within the operations of enforcement agencies that may hinder adequate criminal law enforcement, including insufficient investigation and prosecution of criminal cases related to hereditary slavery.
| Overview of Criminal Law Enforcement | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Training for Criminal Investigators Provided | No (4) | No (8) |
| Number of Investigations | Unknown (4) | 4 (20) |
| Number of Prosecutions Initiated | Unknown (4) | 6 (8) |
| Number of Convictions | 2 (7) | 0 (8) |
| Imposed Penalties for Violations Related to the Worst Forms of Child Labor | Unknown (4) | Unknown (8) |
| Reciprocal Referral Mechanism Exists Between Criminal Authorities and Social Services | Yes (4) | Yes (8) |
In 2022, the government carried out numerous informational campaigns around the country to address indentured and hereditary slavery. (20,52) In October, the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, in collaboration with several human rights organizations, carried out a nationwide awareness raising campaign on anti-slavery and anti-trafficking in persons laws, which reached an estimated 63,000 people. (20) Also in October, MOJ carried out its own campaign to raise awareness about existing anti-slavery and anti-trafficking in persons laws, with the objective of providing training to judges and prosecutors in rural areas. (20) In addition, the National Commission for Human Rights also led an awareness campaign into several regions of the country, which was joined by several foreign ambassadors at different times, as well as by the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nouakchott. This campaign trained local stakeholders and government agencies how to properly identify and report slavery and trafficking in persons cases, as well as how to use the newly established toll-free number to forward and follow up on those types of cases. (20) This toll-free number will provide witnesses, survivors, and other individuals an opportunity to report potential cases of trafficking and slavery anonymously, safely, and securely. (20)
Despite these efforts, more actions are needed from criminal law enforcement agencies to address the worst forms of child labor, including hereditary slavery, given the magnitude of the problem. (11,16,18,23,53,54) In some cases, insufficient action may be due to corruption, misunderstanding of anti-slavery laws, or a lack of political will to prosecute suspected slaveholders in rural areas. (4,10,53) For instance, some police and prosecutors have failed to investigate cases of slavery, even when a complaint has been filed. (55) There are also reports of investigative judges unlawfully dismissing cases of slavery, pressuring victims to drop their cases, and other judges reclassifying slavery cases as a lesser crime. Often it is accepted to use social mediation in lieu of prosecution, including the acceptance of direct payment made by the perpetrator as compensation instead of using the criminal justice system. (5,10,11,21,25,50,51,55,56) Research also indicates that enforcement agencies, including the anti-slavery courts, lack personnel and funding to adequately enforce laws related to the worst forms of child labor. (6,10,19,22,50,57) In addition, improperly documented evidence gathered during investigations, a lack of specialized prosecutors and judges, and a lack of training for police and judicial officials often resulted in victims of slavery or trafficking not being identified. (11,25,50,51,56) Furthermore, perpetrators found guilty in slavery cases often avoid justice by escaping into neighboring countries. (25) Although the government regularly publishes circulars to describe the process of investigating slavery cases and provide victims with services, research indicates that not all officials may be following the circular's guidance. This includes the joint circular 104-2021, which requested that judicial actors address cases under the Anti-Slavery and Anti-Trafficking laws with an appropriate level of seriousness, and also called for greater assistance to victims. (25,52,58)
The government has established a key mechanism to coordinate its efforts to address child labor (Table 8).
| Coordinating Body | Role & Activities |
|---|---|
| Commissariat on Human Rights, Humanitarian Action, and Civil Society Relations | Coordinates the development and implementation of government policies related to human rights, including those related to the worst forms of child labor. Carries out awareness-raising campaigns to combat slavery and human trafficking, and acts as a semi-autonomous body under the supervision of the Office of the Prime Minister, which is also a member of the Human Rights Inter-Ministerial Committee. (19,59) The Commissariat on Human Rights, Humanitarian Action and Civil Society Relations has the power to act as a civil party on behalf of victims of slavery. (10) In 2022, the Commissariat's budget was increased to $6.5 million from $4 million the previous year. (52) |
In May 2022, at the government's invitation, the UN Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery Including its Causes and Consequences visited Mauritania, meeting with the President, Prime Minister, other ministers, as well as civil society and international partners. (60) In addition, in February 2023, the government created the National Authority to Combat Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (INLCTPTM), or Instance Nationale, an organization mandated to combat hereditary slavery and human trafficking by coordinating cross-government efforts, cooperating with international partners, providing assistance to survivors, maintaining a database of trafficking cases, and working with civil society organizations. (20,25) The INLCTPTM also manages a fund to provide lodging, meals, and financial support to survivors of slavery and their families both during and after prosecution of their cases in the anti-slavery courts. (13,25)
The government has established policies related to child labor (Table 9). However, policy gaps exist that hinder efforts to address child labor, including insufficient funding to implement national action plans and strategies.
| Policy | Description & Activities |
|---|---|
| National Child Protection Strategy (2020–2025) | Aims to protect children against violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect. Specifically includes children exploited at work, child survivors of human trafficking, children living on the streets, and children who are survivors of violence or sexual exploitation. (5,8,61) As in the previous year, research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the National Child Protection Strategy during the reporting period. |
| National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons (2020–2022) | Adopted in March 2020, aimed to address forced child labor, forced child begging, forced prostitution, slavery, and other forms of child exploitation. Overseen by the Commissariat on Human Rights, Humanitarian Action, and Civil Society Relations with a budget of $145,946 (5.4 million MRU) for implementation. (17,62) During the reporting period, 20 awareness-raising campaigns on human trafficking aimed at NGOs were carried out. Additionally, 14 trainings on anti-trafficking in persons legislation were organized for administrative, judicial and security officials. (13) |
| Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development (2016–2030) | Aims to reduce poverty, promote sustainable development, and increase access to fundamental social services. Overseen by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Development. (63) Integrates strategies to increase birth registration and access to compulsory education, strengthen social protection systems for children, and support efforts to combat slavery, including its vestiges. (63) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development during the reporting period. |
Efforts to implement key policies related to child labor continue to be delayed due to insufficient allocation of resources. (7,11,56,64)
In 2022, the government funded and participated in programs that include the goal of eliminating child labor (Table 10). However, gaps exist in these social programs, including inadequate efforts to address child labor in all sectors.
| Program | Description & Activities |
|---|---|
| Program to Eradicate the Effects of Slavery† | Government program functioning under the Taazour Administration that supports the reintegration and rehabilitation of former slaves. (65) As in past years, research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the Program to Eradicate the Effects of Slavery during the reporting period. |
| Ministry of Social Affairs, Childhood, and the Family (MASEF) Office of Childhood Programs† | Government programs to protect vulnerable children, including victims of the worst forms of child labor. (14,20) During the reporting period, the MASEF and the NGO Save the Children trained 200 child protection actors on ways to identify child abuse (including violence and exploitation), and put in place a strategy to enable vulnerable children to access preschool education. (8) A total of 150 establishments throughout the country have been set up, including 100 facilities opened in Nouakchott in 2022. (8) Also in 2022, MASEF created additional child protection committees to cover all districts, and continued to operate their Centers for the Protection and Social Integration of Children. (8) In collaboration with the ILO, the MASEF has also begun engaging with domestic workers, employers, and farmers, respectively, to increase social dialogue and improve livelihoods and labor conditions, thereby reducing vulnerabilities to forced labor and risk of continued enslavement. (25) |
| Model Mahadras Program† | Ministry of Islamic Affairs-funded program that provides monthly cash transfers of approximately $27 to parents whose children are enrolled in Model Mahadras. Also operates adult literacy classes for 8,000 religious leaders (imams) across Mauritania to raise awareness of children's rights, including information on child labor and child trafficking. (21) Research was unable to determine whether activities were undertaken to implement the Model Mahadras Program during the reporting period. |
For information about USDOL’s projects to address child labor around the world, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/ilab-project-page-search
† Program is funded by the Government of Mauritania.
In March 2022, the government co-chaired a sub-regional symposium on slavery, which marked the first of its kind to take place in Mauritania and included civil society actors from multiple countries. (8) The government also made some efforts to combat forced child begging, which included visiting some Koranic schools and working with religious leaders to raise awareness of child protection issues. (8) Moreover, the Government of Mauritania, in collaboration with the IOM and the U.S. government, launched an anti-trafficking project to develop the capacity of law enforcement officials, local authorities, and NGOs to address trafficking in persons. As a result of this project, a guide known as the "Code of Good Practice" was created and shared with social services providers. Despite these efforts, the scope of social programs in Mauritania is insufficient to fully address the extent of the problem, especially in agriculture, herding livestock, domestic work, and for children in hereditary and indentured slavery. (4,10) In addition, the lack of recent data on slavery limits the government’s ability to develop effective social programs to comprehensively address this issue, and more awareness-raising efforts on anti-slavery laws are needed throughout the country. (51)
Based on the reporting above, suggested actions are identified that would advance the elimination of child labor in Mauritania (Table 11).
| Area | Suggested Action | Year(s) Suggested |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Framework | Accede to the UN CRC Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict. | 2019 – 2022 |
| Ensure that labor laws specify the activities in which light work may be permitted. | 2015 – 2022 | |
| Raise the compulsory education age from 14 to 16 to align with the minimum age for work. | 2018 – 2022 | |
| Enforcement | Publish complete information on labor law enforcement efforts, including the number of child labor law violations found, the number of child labor violations for which penalties were imposed, the number of child labor penalties imposed that were collected, and whether routine inspections were targeted. | 2019 – 2022 |
| Increase training and resources for labor and criminal law enforcement agencies, including the anti-slavery courts, to adequately enforce labor laws, especially in remote areas and in the informal sector. | 2010 – 2022 | |
| Increase efforts to ensure that cases of the worst forms of child labor, including hereditary slavery and forced begging, are fully investigated, brought to court, and prosecuted in accordance with the law. | 2016 – 2022 | |
| Improve evidence gathering and documentation processes during slavery case investigations and provide the necessary specialized training for prosecutors and judges in the anti-slavery courts. | 2022 | |
| Ensure presumptive pretrial detention for defendants in hereditary slavery cases so that perpetrators found guilty in slavery cases are not able to escape into neighboring countries. | 2022 | |
| Ensure all officials involved in slavery or trafficking in persons cases follow the existing circular 104-2021, and that the circular is as widely shared as possible in order to reach all officials. | 2022 | |
| Ensure that judicial officials can properly identify cases of slavery and trafficking and that they do not improperly dismiss or fail to refer appropriate cases to the anti-slavery courts. | 2020 – 2022 | |
| Take appropriate corrective action to hold accountable any government officials who do not properly enforce, or who prevent the enforcement of the laws related to the worst forms of child labor, including hereditary slavery. | 2022 | |
| Ensure that all cases of slavery and slavery-like practices are tried in the anti-slavery court system and in instances in which they are being tried outside the system, ensure that cases are appropriately transferred. | 2022 | |
| Ensure slavery victims are aware of their rights afforded to them by the judicial system. | 2022 | |
| Increase collaboration and coordination between labor and criminal law enforcement agencies. | 2020 – 2022 | |
| Government Policies | Ensure that key policies related to child labor receive sufficient resources, including funds, for effective implementation. | 2016 – 2022 |
| Ensure activities are undertaken to implement key policies related to child labor and publish results from activities on an annual basis. | 2021 – 2022 | |
| Social Programs | Ensure ongoing reforms guarantee enough schools and teachers, in order to provide every child with access to education. | 2022 |
| Ensure activities are undertaken to implement key social programs to address child labor and make information about implementation measures publicly available on an annual basis. | 2021 – 2022 | |
| Expand the scope of programs to address child labor, including in agriculture, herding, domestic work, and hereditary and indentured slavery. | 2009 – 2022 | |
| Implement a continuous awareness-raising program for government officials on the laws related to slavery and child labor. | 2012 – 2022 | |
| Conduct research and collect data on slavery to inform the development of effective policies and programs to identify and protect children who are at risk. | 2010 – 2022 | |
| Increase funding for social programs that provide services to formerly enslaved persons. | 2015 – 2022 | |
| Ensure that all children are able to obtain birth certificates to increase their access to secondary education and reduce their vulnerability to child labor. | 2016 – 2022 | |
| Increase funding dedicated to improving school infrastructure and teacher availability, especially in rural areas, to eliminate barriers to and make education accessible for all children, including those from families of slave descent, refugees, and ethnic minorities. | 2011 – 2022 |
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Gross intake ratio to the last grade of primary education, both sexes (%). Accessed: March 15, 2023. For more information, please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
http://data.uis.unesco.org/ - ILO. Analysis of Child Economic Activity and School Attendance Statistics from National Household or Child Labor Surveys. Original data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), 2015. Analysis received March 2023. Please see "Children's Work and Education Statistics: Sources and Definitions" in the Reference Materials section of this report.
- Government of Mauritania. Plan d’Action National d’Elimination du Travail des Enfants (2015–2020). April 2015. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. January 14, 2022.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. January 14, 2021.
- The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). Decision on the communication submitted by Minority Rights Group International and SOS-Esclaves on behalf of Said Ould Salem and Yarg Ould Salem against the Government of Mauritania. 2017. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 22, 2022.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. January 10, 2023.
- ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Observation concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Mauritania (ratification: 2001). Published: 2016.
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:3248994:NO - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. January 17, 2020.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. January 15, 2019.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 21, 2021.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 14, 2023.
- Government of Mauritania, Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme. Rapport annuel sur la situation des enfants en Mauritanie. 2016. Source on file.
- ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Observation concerning Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) Mauritania (ratification: 2001). Published: 2023.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:4313101:YES - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. January 9, 2018.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. February 11, 2021.
- United Nations. Mauritania: UN expert encouraged by progress but says more work needed to fully eradicate slavery. May 13, 2022.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/05/mauritania-un-expert-encouraged-progress-says-more-work-needed-fully - U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2021: Mauritania. Washington, D.C., July 8, 2021.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-trafficking-in-persons-report/mauritania/ - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. January 30, 2023.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. October 16, 2019.
- AFL-CIO. Concerning the failure of the Government of Mauritania to comply with section 104 of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. June 17, 2017. Source on file.
- African Union, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Concluding observations and recommendations. 2022.
https://www.acerwc.africa/sites/default/files/2022-09/CO Mauritania ENG-1.pdf - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. February 14, 2020.
- U.S. Department of Labor official. Trip report. 2023.
- U.S. Department of State. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices- 2020: Mauritania. Washington, D.C., March 30, 2021.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/mauritania/ - UNHCR. Operational Update – Mauritania. January 15, 2018.
https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/61593.pdf - Government of Mauritania. Loi N°2018-024 Code Général de Protection de l’Enfant. Enacted: June 2018. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Loi N° 2004-017 Code du travail. Enacted: July 2004.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/68212/139359/F868252464/MRT-68212.pdf - Government of Mauritania. Arrêté N° 0066 relatif à la liste des travaux dangeroux interdits aux enfants. Enacted: January 17, 2022. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Loi N° 025/2003 portant répression de la traite des personnes. Enacted: 2003.
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/65094/113865/F-1222953954/MRT-65094.pdf - Government of Mauritania. Loi N° 2013-011. Enacted: January 2013. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Loi N° 052/15 du 12 août 2015 abrogeant et remplaçant la loi n° 2007-048 du 3 septembre 2007 portant incrimination de l'esclavage et des pratiques esclavagistes. Enacted: August 12, 2015.
http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=fr&p_isn=100117&p_count=2&p_classification=03 - Government of Mauritania. Ordonnance 2005-015 portant protection pénale de l'enfant. Enacted: December 5, 2005. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Loi n° 2020-017 relative à la prévention et la répression de la traite des personnes et la protection des victimes. Enacted: August 6, 2020. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Loi n° 2020-018 modifiant et complétant certaines dispositions de la loi n°2010-021 du 15 février 2010 relative à la lutte contre le trafic illicite des migrants. Enacted: August 6, 2020. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Loi N° 93-37 relative à la représsion de la production, du trafic et de l´usage illicite des stupéfiants et substances psychotropes. Enacted: July 20, 1993.
https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/document/mrt/loi-93-37_html/mauritania-loi_stupefiants.pdf - Government of Mauritania. Loi N° 62132 du 29 Juin 1962. Enacted: June 29, 1962. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Loi N° 2001-054 du portant obligation de l'enseignement. Enacted: July 19, 2001. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Loi n° 2011-003 abrogeant et remplaçant la loi n°96.019 du 19 Juin 1996 portant Code de l’Etat Civil. Enacted: January 12, 2011.
https://data.unicef.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Mauritanie-Code-2011-etat-civil.pdf - Human Rights Watch. Mauritania: Administrative Obstacles Keep Kids From School. March 29, 2018.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/03/29/mauritania-administrative-obstacles-keep-kids-school - L’Association des Femmes Chefs de Familles, La Coalition des Organisations Mauritaniennes pour l’Education, and The Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Privatisation et vente de terrains d'écoles publiques en Mauritanie: Présenté au Comité Des Droits de l'Enfant des Nations Unies à sa 79éme session. July 2018.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a6e0958f6576ebde0e78c18/t/5beba3a9cd83669970c1678a/1542169526649/Rapport+Droit+à+l'éducation+et+privatisation+Mauritanie+CDE+-+juillet+2018+-+final+-+FR.pdf - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. March 27, 2020.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 7, 2020.
- ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Observation concerning Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) Mauritania (ratification: 2001). Published: 2021.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:4054277:YES - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. January 25, 2018.
- Government of Mauritania. Decree 2016.002 establishing the seat and jurisdiction of the slavery criminal courts. Enacted: January 1, 2016. Source on file.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. February 10, 2022.
- U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. April 5, 2021.
- UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Concluding observations on the combined eighth to fourteenth periodic reports of Mauritania. May 30, 2018.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/concluding-observations/committee-elimination-racial-discrimination-concluding - ILO CEACR. Individual Observation concerning Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) Mauritania (ratification: 1961). Published: 2021.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID:4023376 - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. June 7, 2022.
- U.S. Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report- 2019: Mauritania. Washington, D.C., June 20, 2019.
https://www.state.gov/reports/2019-trafficking-in-persons-report-2/mauritania/ - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. February 7, 2019.
- ILO Committee of Experts. Individual Observation concerning Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) Mauritania (ratification: 1961). Published: 2021.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:13100:0::NO:13100:P13100_COMMENT_ID,P13100_COUNTRY_ID:4054973,103075 - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott. Reporting. February 25, 2019.
- ILO. Application of International Labour Standards – Report of the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations. 2017.
http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---relconf/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_543646.pdf - UN Special Rapporteur. End of Mission Statement. May 13, 2022.
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/2022-05/End_Mission_Statement_Mauritania_May2022.docx - U.S. Embassy- Nouakcott official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. March 11, 2020.
- United Nations General Assembly. Contemporary forms of slavery affecting persons belonging to ethnic, religious and linguistic minority communities Report of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, Tomoya Obokata. July 19, 2022.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/ahrc5126-contemporary-forms-slavery-affecting-persons-belonging-ethnic - Government of Mauritania. National Child Protection Strategy. August 27, 2018. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Plan d'Action National de Lutte Contre la Traite des Personnes 2020–2022. March 23, 2020. Source on file.
- Government of Mauritania. Stratégie nationale de croissance accélérée et de prospérité partagée (SCAPP) (2016-2030). 2016.
http://ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_isn=112934 - ILO CEACR. Individual Observation concerning Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) Mauritania (ratification: 2001). Published: 2021.
https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:13100:0::NO::P13100_COMMENT_ID:4012392 - U.S. Embassy- Nouakchott official. E-mail communication to USDOL official. June 16, 2023.
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