A/HRC/47/6 8. The country had improved the effectiveness of institutions working in the area of human rights and had established new institutions, such as the Office for National Solidarity and the Fight against Exclusion, the national mechanism for the prevention of torture, the National Council for Children and the National Observatory on the Rights of Women and Girls. Several other entities were being established, including the National Agency on Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants. 9. Regarding cooperation with international human rights mechanisms, Mauritania had submitted the reports required by the treaty bodies and had agreed to visits by special rapporteurs, including on the issues of torture, extreme poverty and contemporary forms of slavery, and by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 10. Concerning trafficking in persons, the Government had adopted Act No. 2020-017 of 6 August 2020 on the prevention and punishment of trafficking in persons and the protection of victims. In addition, the capacity of the courts specialized in combating slavery-related practices had been strengthened through a considerable increase in financial allocations and human resource support. Judicial activity in that domain had intensified: the courts had begun to hear pending cases and had issued decisions at all levels of procedure, involving sentences ranging from 1 to 20 years’ imprisonment, together with reparations for the victims. 11. As for anti-discrimination efforts, the Constitution prohibited all forms of discrimination and established the principle of equality for all, while protecting civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. In that regard, the Government had adopted and applied legislation that criminalized all forms and manifestations of discrimination. 12. The participation of women in politics had improved, with their representation reaching 19.6 per cent in the National Assembly, 35 per cent in municipal councils and 35.5 per cent in regional councils. Women accounted for 34.6 per cent of all public servants. 13. In order to address new challenges related to the economic and social situation arising from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Government had reconsidered its priorities and had launched three major programmes: the Pastoral Programme, the National Solidarity and COVID-19 Pandemic Response Plan and the Economic Take-off Programme. 14. With regard to access to health-care services, significant progress had been made, in particular in terms of achieving universal coverage. Disease prevention and control and the management of public health emergencies had also improved. 15. With the aim of advancing the health and education sectors, the President had announced 10 key decisions to boost the standard of living of teachers, health-care workers and certain vulnerable groups, such as retirees, widows of retirees, patients with kidney failure, persons with special needs and children with disabilities. 16. A ministerial committee on human rights, headed by the Prime Minister, had been set up, as had a technical committee responsible for preparing reports on the implementation of agreements and for monitoring the implementation of recommendations emanating from treaty bodies and the universal periodic review. 17. However, numerous challenges remained, the most significant being the scarcity of human and financial resources and the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the challenges of terrorism and climate change. Nevertheless, the Government was cooperating with technical and financial partners to carry out ambitious poverty reduction programmes in its effort to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 18. During the interactive dialogue, 98 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 19. Burundi commended Mauritania for its peaceful presidential elections in 2019. It welcomed the measures taken to address female genital mutilation and early marriage and the adoption of a COVID-19 response plan. GE.21-04660 3