Written question asked by Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 9 February 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 11 February 2016. It was answered by Tobias Ellwood (Conservative) on Thursday, 18 February 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Mauritania: Slavery

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the prevalence of slavery in Mauritania.

Answer: We remain concerned about continued reports of slavery in Mauritania, and about the modest sentences handed down in the few successful prosecutions for slavery offences. We welcome the establishment of three courts with specific responsibility for slavery cases. We continue to monitor this topic closely. We regularly raise our concerns with the Mauritanian authorities in the UK and in Nouakchott, and meet human rights and anti-slavery campaigners to discuss the subject.

Secondary information