Joint Submission to the Human Rights Council at the 37th Session of the Universal Periodic Review. MAURITANIA Introduction 1. Association des femmes chefs de Famille (AFCF), SOS-Esclaves (SOS), Anti-slavery International (ASI), Minority Rights Group International, the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights and the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI)make this joint submission to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), on the right to a nationality and human rights challenges pertaining to statelessness, as well as challenges related to racial discrimination and slavery in Mauritania. 2. Association des femmes chefs de famille is a non-partisan, non-profit association, legally constituted in 1999 and based in Mauritania. It works for the promotion of human rights in general and the rights of women and children in particular. AFCF takes part in all actions or activities aimed at the promotion and protection of human rights at the national, regional and international level. One of its primary missions is to combat all forms of discrimination based on gender, race or social status in Mauritania, to promote and protect the human rights of groups excluded from society, in particular women, children and victims of slavery.1 3. SOS-Esclaves has led the fight against slavery by descent in Mauritania for over 25 years. The organisation aims to highlight the realities of this practice, to challenge its acceptance among the population, and to defend the rights of victims who try to escape slavery. It also fights discrimination against people who are descendants of slaves and racial discrimination, and all forms of violations of human rights. SOS-Esclaves has the status of observer member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights status of observer member of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child2. 1 2 For more information, please visit: http://afcf-rim.com/fr/ For more information, please visit: https://www.endslaverynow.org/sos-esclaves-mauritanie 1