U.S COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS
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U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Backgrounder: Mauritania

By USCRI March 15, 2021

The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) presents the following backgrounder on the humanitarian crises in Mauritania as of March 10, 2021. Information and maps are from various sources and not the original work of USCRI.

Mauritania was the last country in the world to abolish slavery, and only criminalized the practice in 2007. However, the practice remains prevalent today, based on a caste system of white Beydane masters and black Haratin slaves. Haratins experience discrimination and persecution in all areas of life, from political participation, to education, to citizenship. Despite the efforts of anti-slavery activists in the country, the government denies that slavery exists and fails to implement meaningful human rights reforms. Even Black Mauritanians who are not enslaved are subjected to systemic discrimination and persecution in all areas of life, from citizenship, to land ownership, to access to education and healthcare.

Read the full report: https://refugees.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Mauritania-Backgrounder-3.11.21.pdf


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