Gender Equality in Mauritania

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Mauritania
flag_Mauritania.png
Flag of Mauritania
Population (in Mil.) 3.54
Gross Domestic Product (In USD Billions - WB) 4.21
Sex Ratio (m/f) 0.93
Life Expectancy Ratio (f/m) 1.071
Fertility Rate 4.3
Income Ratio (f/m) 0.58
Literacy Ratio (f/m) 0.76
Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (f/m) 0.3
Women in Parliament (in %) NA
INDICES
Human Development Index 159/169
Social Institutions and Gender Index 48/86
Gender Inequality Index 118/138
Gender Equity Index 123/157
Women’s Economic Opportunity Index - /113
Global Gender Gap Index 113/134
More information on variables

Contents

In The News

Social Institutions

Introduction

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania gained independence from France in 1960.[1] Mauritania’s first democratically elected government was overthrown in a military coup in August 2008.[2] In 2009, elections were held which confirmed the leader of the coup - General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz – as president.[3] In 1992 a State Secretariat for the Status of Women was established, and in 2005saw the start of a new three-year National Strategy for the Advancement of Women.[4]

Gender equality is enshrined in Article 1 of the Mauritanian constitution.[5] Mauritania ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women in 2001, but has not yet ratified the Optional Protocol on violence against women.[6] The country ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa in 2005.[7] Mauritania is classed as a low-income country by the World Bank.[8] The country’s Human Development Index (HDI) score in 2011 is 0.453 placing Mauritania at 159 out of 187 countries.[9] The Gender Inequality Index value is 0.605 ranking Mauritania at 126th place out of 146 countries.[10] Mauritania’s Global Gender Gap Index ranking in 2011 is 0.6164, placing it in 114th place (out of 135 countries).[11]


Discriminatory Family Code

By law, marriage in Mauritania requires the free consent of both parties, and the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for both men and women.[12] But the law is not respected. Up-to-date data regarding the proportion of girls married before they reach 18 is not available, but data from 2001 reported in the 2004 United Nations World Fertility Report estimated that 28% of girls aged 15-19 were married, divorced or widowed.[13] In contrast, only 0.5% of boys aged 15-19, and 8.1% of men aged 20-24 were married, divorced or widowed, indicating that girls were being married to men significantly older than them.[14] This raises issues around inequality within these relationships, and the ability of young women to make decisions about their own and their children’s wellbeing. There is considerable cultural pressure for people to marry within their own caste and / or ethnic group.[15] Under the personal status code, and Sharia law, polygamy is legal in Mauritania: a man can marry up to four women, but must obtain the consent of his existing wife/wives first.[16] Polygamy is common within the Afro-Mauritanian and Berber Moorish population, occurring less frequently among the Arab Moorish population (although there are indications that the practice is becoming more popular in this community as well).[17] Once married (but not before marrying), women can ask their husbands not to enter into a second union.[18] In Mauritania, in matters concerning personal status, women are considered to be minors before the law.[19] The husband is considered to be the head of the household and holds parental authority, but several legal articles effectively limit his power to act independently on all matters.[20] For example, both parents are responsible for their children’s upbringing.[21]In the event of divorce, women have the right to custody of their children,[22] and the law usually awards custody to the mother.[23] However, a woman can lose custody of her children if she remarries.[24] The divorce rate is quite high among the Moors; more than 35% of marriages end in this way.[25] Mauritanian women cannot pass Mauritanian citizenship onto their children, in cases where the children’s father is of a different nationality.[26] While poverty levels in general in Mauritania are falling, among female-headed households, they are rising.[27] Under the Personal Status Code, women and men have different rights in regard to inheritance.[28] Women have the legal right to inherit property, but following Sharia law their share is usually less than that to which men are entitled.[29] Daughters, for example, inherit only half of the shares acquired by sons.[30] Widows do not have the same inheritance rights as widowers under the Personal Status Code.[31]

Restricted Physical Integrity

Women are legally protected against physical violence inflicted by their husbands; but if abuse occurs, they are more likely to seek assistance from their families, NGOs, or community leaders rather than calling the police or other authorities who rarely intervene even when their help is sought.[32] There are no accurate statistics available as to the prevalence of domestic violence.[33] Rape, including spousal rape, is illegal under Mauritanian law, but legislation is not effectively enforced.[34] Few cases are brought to trial, partly because rape victims themselves are stigmatized and even imprisoned under the Zina (sinful sexual relations outside marriage) ordinances.[35] As with domestic violence, there are no reliable statistics in regard to prevalence rates for rape.[36] Support services are provided by women’s rights NGOs, rather than by the government.[37] Given that in Mauritania, Female genital mutilation (FGM) is usually performed on babies before they are six months old, the practice is effectively banned by the country’s child protection code, which imposes imprisonment and fines for any act or attempt to damage a female child’s sexual organs.[38] That said, the practice remains very prevalent in Mauritania, despite efforts by the government and local and international NGOS at eradication by running campaigns and making it illegal for public hospitals to perform the procedure.[39] According to data in a 2008 statement released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 71.3% of women in Mauritania have undergone some form of FGM; elsewhere, the US Department of State gives a figure of 65%, but no data source is provided.[40] According to a 2004 report by UNICEF (drawing on 2001 Demographic and Household Survey data), women who had no education at all were more likely to have daughters who had been subjected to the procedure (77.4%, as opposed to 60.6% for women who had primary education, and 41.1% for women who had been to secondary school), indicating a link between access to education for women and the practice.[41] Prevalence rates also vary according to ethnic group.[42]

At present, there is no evidence that the practice is in decline; the percentage of women affected is roughly the same across all age groups, and in 2001, 66% of women aged 15-49 who had undergone the practice reported that at least one of their daughters had also been cut.[43] 59% believed the practice should continue.[44] Reasons given for continuing the practice included the belief that it is required by Islam (57%) and to ensure the girl’s virginity (52%).[45] This latter reason would point to FGM being a key means of controlling women’s sexuality in Mauritania.

In keeping with deep-rooted traditions that prize excess weight as an image of female beauty, families in the Arab Moorish community are known to force-feed their daughters.[46] The legal situation governing this practice is unclear (no evidence was found indicating that it is specifically banned), but the practice has become so problematic that the government frequently runs media campaigns against it.[47] The US Department of State reports that these may be having some success, with fewer people openly speaking out in favour of the practice.[48] The 2005 report to the CEDAW committee reports that around one in five women aged 15-49 was being or had been force fed (no data source provided).[49] The same report suggests some correlation between force feeding and denial of access to education: 39% of those who were being or had been force fed had not received any education.[50] Mauritania is a source and destination country for children trafficked into forced labour and for sexual exploitation.[51] Legislation addressing trafficking in persons was introduced in 2003.[52] In addition, slavery-related practices continue to exist in some parts of the country, and internal trafficking of children is a significant problem.[53] Mauritania officially banned slavery in 1981, but it would appear that this law is not currently effectively implemented, and that there is little political will to address the problem.[54]

The government of Mauritania recognises the right of individuals to make informed and free choices about their reproductive health.[55] Up-to-date data is not available, but figures quoted in the 2005 CEDAW report, drawing on DHS data from 2001, indicate that awareness of contraception is high: 69% of women questioned knew at least one method of contraception.[56] But provision is poor and access to contraception and other reproductive services can be difficult, particularly for poorer and rural woman.[57] This is reflected in low levels of use, with only 5% of women reporting that they regularly used a form of contraception in the 2001 DHS (reported in the 2007).[58] In addition, the 2005 CEDAW report states that there is often conflict between a wife’s desire to limit the number of children, and a husband’s desire to have more children.[59] Abortion is only legal to save the pregnant woman’s life.[60]

Son Bias

Up-to-date data regarding infant and early childhood nutrition and mortality is not available, but data from the 2001 DHS indicates that malnutrition rates were higher for boys than for girls, as were mortality rates.[61] Data from the 2001 DHS indicated some discrepancy between primary and secondary enrolment rates for girls and boys: 49.5% of boys and 42.4% of girls aged 6-11 were enrolled at school, and 52.3% of boys and 44.8% of girls aged 12-17 were enrolled.[62]

Provided the figures from 2001 relating to infant and childhood health, and education have remained fairly consistent, this would indicate some degree of son preference in regard to access to education, but not in regard to early childhood care. The male/female sex ratio for the total population in 2012 is 0.93.[63] There is no evidence to suggest that Mauritania is a country of concern in relation to missing women.

Restricted Resources and Entitlements

The Constitution guarantees women the equal right to own property other than land,[64] and many women own and manage commercial or craft enterprises (often in the informal sector).[65]

With respect to property other than land, women and men appear to have equal rights to own property other than land. However, there is not a legal presumption in the Personal Status Code of joint ownership of property acquired throughout a marriage.[66]

1996 saw the establishment of the People’s Savings and Loans Banks.[67] These have greatly improved women’s access to credit, and as of 2005, women constituted 42% of members.[68] Micro credit facilities have also made it easier for women to borrow money, particularly in rural areas.[69]

Restricted Civil Liberties

There are no reported legal restrictions on women’s freedom of access to public space. Freedom of association and assembly is protected under Mauritanian law, but peaceful demonstrations held following the military coup and throughout 2009 were forcibly broken up or prevented.[70] This included a group of women former ministers, members of parliament and human rights defenders who were staging a sit-in outside the UN offices in the capital city, Nouakchott, in April 2009, who were beaten by police.[71] Freedom of speech is protected by law in Mauritania.[72] In 2009, however, several journalists were questioned and detained.[73] This included the director of the Taqadoumy website, who was convicted of creating a space where individuals could express un-Islamic and indecent views, because a woman had posted comments calling for increased sexual freedom on the site.[74] Women in Mauritania have equal rights with men to vote and stand for election.[75] Since 2006, electoral law has decreed that women must make up at least 20% seats for municipal councils. The law also provides a minimum number of women to be represented on candidate lists for parliamentary elections.[76] In the 2006 elections, 21 women were elected out of 95 seats in the lower house (22%) and in 2009, 8 women were elected out of 56 seats in the upper house (14%). Women’s rights groups are very active and vocal on a range of issues, including slavery, and harmful practices such as forced feeding and FGM, and in providing support and services to victims of rape and domestic violence.[77] There is also a strong movement of women’s cooperatives at the local level.[78]

Women in Mauritania have the right to 14 weeks’ paid maternity leave.[79] There are no restrictions on women’s right to work in Mauritania, and the Personal Status Code explicitly states that a married woman has the right to choose her own profession.[80] Over 50% of the country’s agricultural workforce is female.[81] Government programmes have encouraged women to enter professions traditionally dominated by men, such as health care, communications, and the police.[82]


References

  1. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2010) The World Factbook: Mauritania , Washington, Dc: Cia, Online Edition, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mr.html (ACCESSED 8 NOVEMBER 2010).
  2. ↑ Amnesty International (2009) Amnesty International Report 2009, State of the World’s Human Rights, London: Amnesty International, p.222
  3. ↑ Amnesty International (2010) Amnesty International Report 2009, State of the World’s Human Rights, London: Amnesty International.http://thereport.amnesty.org/sites/default/files/AIR2010_EN.pdf (accessed 8 November 2010), p.222
  4. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.11; CEDAW (2007) ‘RESPONSES TO THE LIST OF ISSUES AND QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE INITIAL REPORT OF MAURITANIA’, CEDAW/C/MRT/Q/1/ADD.1, CEDAW, NEW YORK, NY. AVAILABLE AT HTTP://WWW2.OHCHR.ORG/ENGLISH/BODIES/CEDAW/CEDAWS38.HTM (ACCESSED 8 NOVEMBER 2010, p.5
  5. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.18
  6. ↑ Africa for Women’s Rights (2009) ‘Map / carte ratifications’, http://www.africa4womensrights.org/post/2009/01/23/Carte-des-ratifications (accessed 8 November 2010).
  7. ↑ African Union (2010) ‘List of countries which have signed, ratified/acceded to the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa’ (as of 27 August 2010). http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/Documents/Treaties/List/Protocol%20on%20the%20Rights%20of%20Women.pdf (accessed 15 October 2010).
  8. ↑ World Bank (n.d.) Data: Mauritania, http://data.worldbank.org/country/mauritania (accessed 8 November 2010)Data: Mauritania
  9. ↑ United Nations Development Programme (2011) Human Development Report 2011, available at http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Complete.pdf, accessed 29 February 2012.p.129
  10. ↑ United Nations Development Programme (2011) Human Development Report 2011, available at http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Complete.pdf, accessed 29 February 2012.p.141
  11. ↑ World Economic Forum (2011) The Global Gender Gap Report 2011, available at http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2011.pdf, accessed 2 March 2012. p.11
  12. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., pp.56-57
  13. ↑ UN (United Nations) (2004), World Fertility Report 2003, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, New York, NY., p.220
  14. ↑ UN (United Nations) (2004), World Fertility Report 2003, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, New York, NY., p.220
  15. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  16. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  17. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  18. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.56
  19. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  20. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.56
  21. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., pp.56-57
  22. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  23. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.56
  24. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  25. ↑ AFROL NEWS (2007), Gender Profile: Mauritania, www.afrol.com/categories/women/profiles/mauretania_women.htm (ACCESSED 22 NOVEMBER 2010)
  26. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.28; US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  27. ↑ CEDAW (2007) ‘Responses To The List Of Issues And Questions For Consideration Of The Initial Report Of Mauritania’, Cedaw/C/Mrt/Q/1/Add.1, Cedaw, New York, NY. AVAILABLE AT http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (ACCESSED 8 NOVEMBER 2010), p.9; CMAP, “Diagnostic-bilan de la situation des femmes en Mauritanie”, rapport prepare par Amel Daddah, Juin 2003, pp.14-16 and (ii) RIM/SECF, “Indicateurs de genre en Mauritanie”, FUNAP et ORC Macro, Mars 2003, pp.15-18.
  28. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.55
  29. ↑ Afrol News (2007), Gender Profile: Mauritania, www.afrol.com/categories/women/profiles/mauretania_women.htm (ACCESSED 22 NOVEMBER 2010)
  30. ↑ Afrol News (2007), Gender Profile: Mauritania, www.afrol.com/categories/women/profiles/mauretania_women.htm (ACCESSED 22 NOVEMBER 2010)
  31. ↑ Code du Statut Personnel (2001) Art. 253-259 ,available at http://www.law.yale.edu/rcw/rcw/jurisdictions/afw/mauritania/mauritania_per_status_fr.pdf, accessed 19 March 2012
  32. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  33. ↑ CEDAW (2007) ‘Responses To The List Of Issues And Questions For Consideration Of The Initial Report Of Mauritania’, Cedaw/C/Mrt/Q/1/Add.1, Cedaw, New York, NY. available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (ACCESSED 8 NOVEMBER 2010, p.12
  34. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  35. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  36. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  37. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  38. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  39. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  40. ↑ UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) (2009) African Women’s Report 2009: Measuring Gender Inequality in Africa:Experiences and Lessons from the African Gender and Development Index, Addis Ababa: UNECA. , p.54, quoting a WHO report from 2008 (‘Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation. An interagency statement’); US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  41. ↑ UNICEF (2005a) ‘Changing a harmful social convention: female genital mutilation/cutting’, Innocenti Digest, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, UNICEF, Florence, p.6
  42. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.39
  43. ↑ UNICEF (2005a) ‘Changing a harmful social convention: female genital mutilation/cutting’, Innocenti Digest, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, UNICEF, Florence, p.7; UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) (2005b), Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Statistical Exploration, UNICEF, New York, NY. Available at http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/FGM-C_final_10_October.pdf (accessed 11 October 2010)., p.6
  44. ↑ UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) (2005b), Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Statistical Exploration, UNICEF, New York, NY. Available at http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/FGM-C_final_10_October.pdf (accessed 11 October 2010)., p.18
  45. ↑ UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) (2005b), Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Statistical Exploration, UNICEF, New York, NY. Available at http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/FGM-C_final_10_October.pdf (accessed 11 October 2010) p.17
  46. ↑ ommittee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.39; US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  47. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  48. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  49. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.40
  50. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010). , p.40
  51. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2010) The World Factbook: Mauritania , Washington, DC: CIA, online edition, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mr.html (accessed 8 November 2010).
  52. ↑ Act No. 025-2003 of 17 July 2003 (CEDAW (2007) ‘Responses To The List Of Issues And Questions For Consideration Of The Initial Report Of Mauritania’, Cedaw/C/Mrt/Q/1/Add.1, Cedaw, New York, NY. Available At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (ACCESSED 8 NOVEMBER 2010, p.15)
  53. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2010) The World Factbook: Mauritania , Washington, Dc: Cia, Online Edition, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mr.html (Accessed 8 November 2010).
  54. ↑ Amnesty International (2010) Amnesty International Report 2009, State of the World’s Human Rights, London: Amnesty International. http://thereport.amnesty.org/sites/default/files/AIR2010_EN.pdf (accessed 8 November 2010), p.223; see also CEDAW (2007) ‘Responses To The List Of Issues And Questions For Consideration Of The Initial Report Of Mauritania’, Cedaw/C/Mrt/Q/1/Add.1, Cedaw, New York, NY. Available At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 november 2010, pp.14; BBC (n.d) ‘Mauritania country profile’, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/country_profiles/791083.stm (accessed 5 December 2010)
  55. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010),p.41; US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  56. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010), p.41
  57. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010); CEDAW (2007) ‘Responses To The List Of Issues And Questions For Consideration Of The Initial Report Of Mauritania’, Cedaw/C/Mrt/Q/1/Add.1, Cedaw, New York, NY. AVAILABLE AT http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (Accessed 8 November 2010), p.21
  58. ↑ CEDAW (2007) ‘Responses To The List Of Issues And Questions For Consideration Of The Initial Report Of Mauritania’, Cedaw/C/Mrt/Q/1/Add.1, Cedaw, New York, NY. AVAILABLE AT http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (Accessed 8 November 2010), p.21
  59. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.57
  60. ↑ UNDP (2007)’World abortion policies’, data downloaded from http://www.devinfo.info/genderinfo/ (accessed 7 November 2010).
  61. ↑ Office National de la Statistique (ONS) [Mauritanie] et ORC Macro (2001), Enquête Démographique et de Santé Mauritanie 2000-2001, ONS et ORC Macro, Calverton, MD. http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pub_details.cfm?ID=345&ctry_id=68&SrchTp=ctry&flag=sur&cn=Mauritania (accessed 22 November 2010), pp.142, 154
  62. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010). , p.31
  63. ↑ Central Intelligence Agency (2012) The World Fact Book: Sex Ratio, available at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2018.html, accessed 9 March 2012.
  64. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010). p.55
  65. ↑ CEDAW (2007) ‘Responses To The List Of Issues And Questions For Consideration Of The Initial Report Of Mauritania’, Cedaw/C/Mrt/Q/1/Add.1, Cedaw, New York, NY. Available At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (ACCESSED 8 NOVEMBER 2010, p.20
  66. ↑ World Bank (2011) http://wbl.worldbank.org/data/exploreeconomies/mauritania/2011#using-property
  67. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010), p.47
  68. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010), p.47
  69. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., pp.47, 52; CEDAW (2007) ‘Responses To The List Of Issues And Questions For Consideration Of The Initial Report Of Mauritania’, Cedaw/C/Mrt/Q/1/Add.1, Cedaw, New York, Ny. Available At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (Accessed 8 November 2010, p.23
  70. ↑ Amnesty International (2009) Amnesty International Report 2009, State of the World’s Human Rights, London: Amnesty International, p.222; Amnesty International (2010) Amnesty International Report 2009, State of the World’s Human Rights, London: Amnesty International. http://thereport.amnesty.org/sites/default/files/AIR2010_EN.pdf (accessed 8 November 2010), p.222; US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  71. ↑ Amnesty International (2010) Amnesty International Report 2009, State of the World’s Human Rights, London: Amnesty International. http://thereport.amnesty.org/sites/default/files/AIR2010_EN.pdf (accessed 8 November 2010), p.222; US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  72. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  73. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  74. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  75. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.18
  76. ↑ CEDAW(2007) ‘Responses To The List Of Issues And Questions For Consideration Of The Initial Report Of Mauritania’, Cedaw/C/Mrt/Q/1/Add.1, CEDAW, New York, Ny. Available At http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (ACCESSED 8 NOVEMBER 2010, p. 8; US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  77. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)
  78. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010), p.13
  79. ↑ International Labour Organization (ILO) (2009) Database Of Conditions Of Work And Employment Laws, http://www.ilo.org/dyn/travail/travmain.home (Accessed 8 November 2010)
  80. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010), p.56
  81. ↑ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (2005), ‘Consideration of Reports Submitted by States Parties Under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: Mauritania, Initial Report of States Parties’, CEDAW/C/MRT/1, CEDAW, New York, NY. Available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cedaw/cedaws38.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)., p.50
  82. ↑ US Department of State (2010) ‘2009 Country Reports on Human Rights: Mauritania’, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135965.htm (accessed 8 November 2010)

The Africa for Women's Rights Campaign

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Key facts

The Campaign

On 8 March 2009 the "Africa for Women's Rights" Campaign was launched at the initiative of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), in collaboration with fove non-governmental regional organisations: the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies(ACDHRS), Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) and Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA). These organisations make up the Steering Committee responsible for the coordination of the Campaign.

The Campaign aims to put an end to discrimination and violence against women in Africa, calling on states to ratify international and regional instruments protecting women's rights, to repeal all discriminatory laws, to adopt laws protecting the rights of women and to take all necessary measures to wensure their effective implementation.

Country Focus: Mauritania

Although Mauritania has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), it entered a general reservation whereby only those articles which comply with Sharia Law and the Mauritiania Constitution would be applied. The Coalition of the Campaign emphasises that this restriction violates international law in that it goes against the object and purpose of the Convention. Mauritania has also ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), but has still not ratified the Optional Protocol to CEDAW.

The Coalition of the Campaign is particularly concerned about the following continued violations of women’s rights in Mauritania: the persistence of discriminatory laws; harmful traditional practices, including early and forced marriages and female genital mutilation; violence against women; slavery; limited access to education, employment and healthcare.

Read more

Sources

The Women, Business and the Law

Where are laws equal for men and women? 

The Women, Business and the Law report presents indicators based on laws and regulations affecting women's prospects as entrepreneurs and employees. Several of these indicators draw on the Gender Law Library, a collection of over 2,000 legal provisions impacting women's economic status. This report does not seek to judge or rank countries, but to provide information to inform discussions about women’s economic rights. Women, Business and the Law provides data covering 6 areas: accessing institutions,using property, getting a job, providing incentives to work, building credit, and going to court. Read more about the methodology.

For detailed information on Mauritania, please visit the Women, Business and
the Law Mauritania page.

Sources

The FAO Gender and Landrights Database

The FAO Gender and Landrights Database contains country level information on social, economic, political and cultural issues related to the gender
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inequalities embedded in those rights. Disparity on land access

is one of the major causes for social and gender in rural areas, and it jeopardizes, as a consequence, rural food security as well as the wellbeing of individuals and families.

Six categories

The Database offers information on the 6 following Categories:

• National legal frame

• International treaties and conventions

• Customary law

• Land tenure and related Institutions

• Civil society organizations • Selected Land Related Statistics

For detailed information information on Mauritania, please visit the report on in the FAO Gender and Landrights Database.

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