Paragraph 2 of Article 1 of the Constitution stipulates: “The Republic ensures all its citizens equality before the law, without distinction as to origin, race, sex or social condition”. Article 12 stipulates: “all citizens may accede to public office and employment with no conditions other than those prescribed by law”. Affirmative action and specific temporary measures are applied with regard to elections and elective office. There is a significant increase in the quota for women. Positions are reserved for women in all recruitment processes.  The Personal Status Code of 2001 sets the age of marriage at 18 years;  The 2005 Code on the judicial protection of minors prohibits and criminalizes female genital mutilation (Article 12);  The 2001 law on compulsory basic education sets the school age at 6 to 14 years;  The Ordinance introducing the organic law on access for women to elective office and electoral mandates sets a 20% quota for women;  Poor litigants benefit from the law on legal assistance;  The Ordinance on the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities provides for privileges for this category.  The Labour Code and the law governing the civil pensions scheme of the Retirement Fund authorize the payment of pension to the legal heirs of a female civil servant in like manner as a male colleague.  Payment of pension to the dependents of a deceased female civil servant;  Harmonization of the retirement age at 60 years for female employees governed by the collective bargaining agreement. The public authorities have put in place an institutional mechanism ensuring the promotion of women’s rights and gender mainstreaming in public policies. This mechanism includes:  The Ministry of Social Affairs, Children and the Family entrusted with the mission of promoting and protecting the rights of women, families and children;  The national group and regional groups on gender monitoring;  The network of women ministers and parliamentarians;  The national committee to combat gender-based violence including female genital mutilation;  Regional and departmental committees to combat gender-based violence;  Units in charge of dealing with and resolving family disputes – monitoring the implementation of recommendations relating to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against women and promoting human rights. b)-Measures to strengthen the participation of women in politics and decisionmaking  Adoption of a national list of 20 women for parliamentary elections;  Adoption of a national list of 20 seats and another list of 18 seats for the Nouakchott constituency; 28