Introduction This report is submitted in accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. It has been drawn up in accordance with the State party reporting guidelines of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. It combines the 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th periodic reports to be presented by Mauritania over the 2006 to 2014 period. The delay in the presentation of this report is due to institutional and political changes which occurred in 2005 and 2009 resulting in the exclusion of the country from African Union policy organs. Despite this situation, the Government continued its efforts to promote and protect human rights. The report comprises three sections: The first section provides general information on the country, the second deals with the implementation of the provisions of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, and the third section relates to the additional protocol to the African Charter on the rights of women, referred to as the Maputo Protocol. It shall be noted that this report was prepared following consultations initiated in 2015 with the various stakeholders. Data was collected from the relevant departments and institutions. PART I: General information on the Islamic Republic of Mauritania General data: A. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics 1. Demographic data Mauritania is a multi-ethnic and multicultural country. Arabs make up the majority of the population, which also includes Pulaar, Soninke and Wolof minorities. It has a population of 3,537,628 inhabitants (RGPH 2013) of which 27.1% reside in Nouakchott, the capital city1. 1 9 Source: National statistics agency