The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights (PHRG) met with HE Mohamed Yahya Ould Sidi Haiba, Chargé d’Affaires and Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania in London, to discuss human rights in Mauritania, particularly the issue of slavery.

We would like to thank PHRG Treasurer, Mark Durkan MP, for chairing this meeting.

During the meeting, the PHRG highlighted the importance of the Mauritanian Government recognising the continuing practice of slavery in Mauritania. We also called upon the Mauritanian Government to do more to ensure that slave owners are prosecuted under its anti-slavery legislation, in order to set an example to others and combat impunity.

We extend our thanks to the Head of Mission for meeting with us in Parliament, and hope to have further constructive dialogue with the Mauritanian Government on this issue in future.

We welcome the news that Mauritanian anti-slavery activists Biram Dah Abeid and Brahim Bilal Ramdhane have been released following a decision by the Mauritanian Supreme Court; and that two slave owners, Sidi Mohamed Ould Hanana and Hlehana Ould Hmeyada, have been convicted by the Special Courts for slavery, each receiving a five-year sentence, a fine and an order to pay significant compensation to the victims. Please also see our latest EDM, tabled by Mark Durkan MP, on this issue.