EU Foreign Policy on Mauritania Scrutinised by MEPs: Adequate Response to Slavery Still Pending
Written replies by the EU High Representative to MEPs’ parliamentary questions indicate that the European Union is yet to muster an appropriate response to ongoing gross human rights violations in Mauritania, most notably with regard to the widespread practice of slavery.
On 19 January 2015 and 24 February 2015, Barbara Matera MEP (EPP) and Hugues Bayet MEP (S&D), respectively, posed written parliamentary questions to Commission Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, regarding the imprisonment of Biram Dah Abeid, President of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA) and UNPO Presidency Member; Brahim Bilam Ramdhane, IRA’s Vice-President; and Djiby Sow, President of Kawal, a local NGO, after a peaceful protest against Mauritania’s widespread practice of slavery. The responses by the High Representative are not only vague, but demonstrate a lack of clear and precise action regarding the ongoing gross human rights violations in Mauritania.
UNPO has actively been advocating for the immediate and unconditional release of the anti-slavery activists, as well as for the de facto abolition of slavery in the country. Thanks to UNPO’s advocacy efforts, the European Parliament approved an urgent resolution on Mauritania on 18 December 2014, UNPO has also submitted several alternative reports on slavery in Mauritania, including in the context of the 2015 Universal Periodic Review of the country, an alternative report to the ICCPR in 2013, and an alternative report to CEDAW in 2014.
Furthermore, earlier this year UNPO conducted a fact-finding mission to Mauritania and met with a wide range of Government officials, politicians, civil society organizations and activists in order to engage in renewed dialogue and assess efforts at the national level to combat slavery.
The parliamentary questions put forth can be found here: Barbara Matera MEP’s question - VP/HR Mogherini’s answer; Hugues Bayet MEP’s question; VP/HR Mogherini’s answer.
