On 30 June 2026, Defence for Children International (DCI) delivered a statement during the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council under Item 6: Adoption of the Report of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Mauritania.
DCI welcomed the adoption of Mauritania’s UPR report and acknowledged the State’s engagement with the review process. While recognising progress in areas such as reproductive health, efforts to combat slavery, and the establishment of the National Observatory for the Rights of Women and Girls, DCI stressed that significant challenges remain in the effective protection of the rights of women and children.
DCI expressed concern over the absence of comprehensive legislation addressing gender-based violence, including online violence, and the lack of legislative reforms explicitly prohibiting child marriage. The continued practice of female genital mutilation, despite its legal prohibition, further demonstrates the need for stronger enforcement of existing laws and greater efforts to combat impunity.
DCI called on Mauritania to fully implement the recommendations it has accepted in the Universal Period Review, including by:
- adopting comprehensive legislation on gender-based violence;
- harmonising its legal framework with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child;
- strengthening protection and support services for survivors; and
- ensuring equitable access to education, particularly for girls and children living in rural areas.
The adoption of the UPR report must now be followed by concrete and measurable action to ensure that these commitments translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of women and children in Mauritania.
Learn more
Read the full statement, in French
Watch the delivery at the United Nations, in French:
This post is also available in: FR