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Wednesday, September 6, 2006
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Nature of the Case

Complaint alleging violations of rights to health, work, property, life and cultural life under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Articles 14, 16, 5, 4, 17).

Enforcement of the Decision and Outcomes

The commission urged the Government to, amongst other things: take measures to ensure the restitution of the belongings looted from them at the time of the expulsion: take the necessary steps for the reparation of and compensation of victims;  to take measures for the effective enforcement of laws prohibiting slavery in Mauritania. This did not occur.  Post-the decision, concern about the physical and mental health of political prisoners and the treatment of prisoners in pre-trial detention continued. Slavery and forced labour continued also.  Following a non-violent military coup in August 2005, the human rights situation there has apparently improved.

Significance of the Case

The Commission’s finding a violation of the positive obligations imposed by Article 16 is significant. Furthermore, the Commission found that acts that would violate socio-economic rights (denial of food, health services) also constituted violations of civil and political rights – a clear illustration of the indivisibility and interdependence of such rights.  Finally, the Commission emphasised that the responsibility of the state in relation to the right to health is ‘heightened’ in cases where the individual is incarcerated.

Groups Involved in the Case

Maître Fatimata MBAYE, Présidente de l’ Association Mauritanienne des Droits de l’Homme (AMDH) Association Mauritanienne des Droits de l’Homme BP 5012 NOUAKCHOTT MAURITANIE Tel : 00 222 52 55 159 Fax : 00 22 22 528 94 ou 00 22 22 51 831 Email : fatimatambaye@caramail.com Ms. Sarr Diop, Union Interafricaine des Droits de l’Homme and RADDHO Union Interafricaine des Droits de l’Homme (Interafrican Union for Human Rights) 01 BP 1346 Ouagadougou 01 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Tel. (226) 31-61-45 Fax (226) 31-61-44 Website Other groups involved: Malawi African Association Amnesty International, www.amnesty.org Collectif des Veuves et Ayants-droit