Table 6: Ratified regional human rights instruments N° Instrument 1 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights 2 Optional Protocol on the establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the rights of women in Africa African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights establishing the African Court on Human and People’s Rights OAU Convention governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa 3 4 5 6 7 Date of adoption 1981 Date Ratified 1986 1988 2005 1990 2005 2003 2005 2011 2008 1998 2005 1969 1972 Reservations or observations Incorporated into the preamble to the Constitution of 20 July 1991 3°)-Legal framework of human rights promotion and protection at the national level a)-Constitutional authority The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania guarantees human rights in its preamble as follows: “Building on its spiritual values and its flourishing civilization, the People of Mauritania also proclaims, solemnly, its attachment to Islam and to the principles of democracy as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948 and by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of 28 June 1981 as well as in the other international conventions to which Mauritania is a party”. The Constitution guarantees all rights and freedoms set forth in the instruments to which Mauritania is a party. b)-Incorporation of international human rights instruments Under Mauritania’s prevailing monistic system, ratified international human rights instruments form an integral part of the body of national legislation in accordance with Article 80 of the Constitution. 22