A/HRC/47/6 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-seventh session from 18 January to 8 February 2021. The review of Mauritania was held at the 3rd meeting, on 19 January 2021. The delegation of Mauritania was headed by the Commissioner for Human Rights, Humanitarian Action and Relations with Civil Society, Mohamed El Hassen Boukhreiss. At its 10th meeting, held on 22 January 2021, the Working Group adopted the report on Mauritania. 2. On 12 January 2021, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Mauritania: China, Libya and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Mauritania: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a);1 (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b); 2 (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c).3 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Belgium, Canada, Germany, Liechtenstein, Panama, Poland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America was transmitted to Mauritania through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The Mauritanian delegation emphasized that the country had amended its Constitution in 2017 and organized, under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, local, legislative and presidential elections in 2019. The presidential election had led to the first peaceful transfer of power between two democratically elected presidents. 6. In implementing his programme, the President had taken an inclusive approach towards all actors, irrespective of their political affiliation, with a view to achieving social harmony. The commitment of Mauritania to the protection and promotion of human rights was based on the values of tolerance and openness, which were the bedrock of the national culture. These values were embodied in the political will of the President, who considered the protection of human rights as the cornerstone of his political programme. 7. The Government had translated this political will into an action plan on the implementation of the recommendations from the second cycle of the universal periodic review. The institutional and legal framework to promote human rights had been considerably improved. The country had acceded to the Arab Charter on Human Rights and ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143), and the ILO Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144). Many laws had been adopted in accordance with the international instruments ratified by Mauritania. A number of bills were under consideration, including one on combating violence against women and girls and another on associations, foundations and networks. 1 A/HRC/WG.6/37/MRT/1. A/HRC/WG.6/37/MRT/2. 3 A/HRC/WG.6/37/MRT/3. 2 2 GE.21-04660