Understanding migratory routes and combating human trafficking in Mauritania

This project, in its fifth and last phase, had three overarching aims. It aimed to support the Mauritanian government to reform the law on trafficking in persons in Mauritania, conduct DTM surveys on the issues of trafficking and smuggling, and assist victims of trafficking, including with urgent shelter, food, and medical needs as well as voluntary return and reintegration where appropriate.

Casework with survivors of trafficking – a key feature of previous phases of this project which had previously aided approximately 200 returning survivors of trafficking to reintegrate in Mauritania – continued in the fifth and final phase (2019), with 60 cases being assisted, including complex cases of unaccompanied children. The caseload included 4 survivors of trafficking who are migrants in transit in Mauritania and who benefitted from both direct assistance and assistance for voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) in their country of origin. 56 further returning migrants (Mauritanian survivors of trafficking) were assisted for reintegration in Mauritania, having been trafficked in Gulf countries. This was achieved through a partnership with the National Agency for the Promotion of Youth Employment (ANAPEJ), which conducted training on how to run small businesses in an accessible format for returned VoTs. Each one was then assisted with the start-up of a small business, ranging from taxi services to small shops.

The direct assistance that was provided to a small number of survivors departing with the AVRR programme to their countries of origin from Mauritania was ensured through partnership with the Health Ministry and the NGO Mission Catholique.