In a significant move, the Government of Mauritania has finally registered the country's leading anti-slavery organisation, SOS Esclaves.

Despite being internationally recognised and having observer status at the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, the continent's foremost human rights body, SOS Esclaves has been banned within Mauritania. As a result, it was unable to work openly in the country. Despite this, its activists continued their work against slavery, living under the constant threat of arrest.

In April, the problem of slavery in Mauritania received prominent attention at the African Commission's 37th session, as did the Government's failure to register human rights organisations. The Commission called on the Government to work in co-operation with NGOs to end slavery in Mauritania, and for the problem of their registration to be overcome.

Less than a month later, the Government registered two leading Mauritanian human rights groups: SOS Esclaves and the Association Mauritanien des Droits de l'Homme, both Anti-Slavery International partners.

We welcome the Government's official recognition of these organisations and urge it to acknowledge the reality of slavery throughout the country and work for its end.