Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asked Mauritania’s parliament to revise a draft law on associations to ensure it meets international standards on freedom of association.
It is understood that the law as drafted would still allow for excessive government control over people’s right to form or operate within associations.
Mauritania’s Council of Ministers had in September sent the draft on associations, foundations, and networks to replace current highly restrictive legislation to parliament.
The draft law replaces a system of licence with one in which a group automatically would obtain legal status within 60 days after it submits its bylaws and a declaration of incorporation to authorities.
The current 1964 Law on Associations requires associations to obtain permission to operate legally and grants the Interior Ministry far-reaching power to refuse permission on vague grounds.
‘While the draft law is a step forward from the current draconian legislation, some revisions are needed to ensure a robust positive environment for Mauritanian civil society’, acting Middle East and North Africa Director at HRW, Eric Goldstein, said in a statement.
‘The authorities should make it easy for Mauritanians to come together for political or other peaceful purposes’.
The draft law provides that only a judicial authority can permanently suspend an association.
‘But the draft law also contains provisions at odds with the right to freedom of association’, the HRW statement read.
‘The draft’s definition of ‘association’ excludes associations of fewer than five people and groups with a non-permanent mandate, provisions that do not correspond to international standards’.
The rights organisation called on the parliament to amend the draft to reflect the definition proposed by the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
Source: HRW
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