13 members of Initiative pour la résurgence de la mouvement abolitionniste (IRA).

Cases

Relevant SG report

From Country

Country Geolocation

Latitude: 21.00789

Longitude: -10.940835

From Region

UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report

Type of rights defended

Was the victim a civil servant, member of the security forces or of the judiciary?: No

Reported trigger of reprisal: possible link with members having cooperated with the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights during his visit to the country

Engagement with UN body

Type of attempted engagement

Meeting with UN officials during country visit / with locally present UN officials

Reprisal information: Grave violations in Mauritania of the judicial process, including allegations of torture following the arrest, arbitrary detention and sentencing to prison of 13 members of Initiative pour la résurgence du mouvement abolitionniste.

The members of IRA were arrested between June and July 2016, and were accused of armed gathering, use of violence towards law enforcement agents, insurrection and membership in a non-recognized organization. Following trials, which violated fair trial and due process guarantees due to a number of irregularities, the activists were sentenced in August 2016 to imprisonment, ranging from three to fifteen years.

Types of reprisals suffered

Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?: No

Government response content: the Government responded by denying allegations of torture, and stating that the judicial process scrupulously respected international human rights standards. The Government’s reply did not address the allegations of reprisals.

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?: No

Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?: No

Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?: No