A/HRC/16/17 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its ninth session from 1 to 12 November 2010. The review of Mauritania was held at the 16th meeting, on 10 November 2010. The delegation of Mauritania was headed by Mohamed Abdallahi Ould Khattra, Commissaire aux Droits de l’Homme, à l’Action Humanitaire et aux Relations avec la Société Civile. At its 17th meeting, held on 12 November 2010, the Working Group adopted the report on Mauritania. 2. On 21 June 2010, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Mauritania: Hungary, Guatemala and Mauritius. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Mauritania: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/9/MRT/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/9/MRT/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/9/MRT/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and Norway was transmitted to Mauritania through the troika. Those questions are available on the extranet of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process 5. During the interactive dialogue, 52 delegations made statements. A number of delegations commended Mauritania for the ratification of core human rights instruments and for its efforts in the areas of human rights and democracy. Recommendations made during the dialogue are found in section II of the present report. A. Presentation by the State under review 6. The delegation said that it would like to take the opportunity presented by the dialogue with the Working Group within the framework of the universal periodic review to reaffirm the fact that the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania stood ready to continue its efforts, as a member of the Council, to defend human rights, preserve human dignity and respect the fundamental principles of the United Nations. 7. The national report was the result of a consultation process to which all interested parties had contributed. The report had been drafted by an interministerial technical committee in coordination with the National Human Rights Commission. 8. Mauritania, which was preparing to commemorate 50 years of independence in a few days’ time, upheld human rights as fundamental and irrevocable principles. They were enshrined in the preamble to the Constitution, which stated that the Mauritanian people were determined to guarantee the principles of democracy as set out in the Universal 3