Global Progress Towards Ending the Sexual Exploitation of Children
A global problem requires truly global solutions to address the sexual exploitation of children.
Indicators
Age of Consent
Not Yet Assessed
Extraterritoriality & Extradition
No
Active extraterritoriality is recognized for all SEC related offences committed by Mauritanian citizens abroad under Article 596 of the Code of Penal Procedure. Active and passive extraterritoriality is recognised for trafficking offences committed abroad by Mauritanian citizens or against Mauritanian citizens/habitual residents under Article 23 of Law nº 2020-017 on the Prevention and Repression of Human Trafficking and the Protection of Victims. Double criminality is not required for extraterritorial jurisdictions over SEC related offences, unless in the case of minor offences (délits) according to Article 596 of the Code of Penal Procedure. Double criminality is not required for active and passive extraterritoriality over trafficking offences under Law nº 2020-017.
There is no general laws on extradition, so it is unclear whether double criminality applies. It will depend on the rules provided by each extradition treaty.
Code of Penal Procedure of Mauritania,
Law nº 2020-017 on the Prevention and Repression of Human Trafficking and the Protection of Victim,
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, 1984, 2020, 1991 (status as of 2012)
CSAM Definition
Not Yet Assessed
Background Check Required
Not Yet Assessed
National Commitments
Not Yet Assessed
Child Advocacy Centers
Not Yet Assessed
SEC Police Unit
Not Yet Assessed
Protection Standards Travel and Tourism
Not Yet Assessed
Public SEC Case Data
Not Yet Assessed
Age of Consent Law is Appropriate
The age of sexual consent for both males and females is 18 and a close in age exemption (up to 3 years) is provided for consensual sexual relationships between adolescents.
The age of sexual consent is the legally defined age at which a person is considered mature enough to agree to sexual activity. The age of sexual consent varies across jurisdictions around the world and there is no international legal instrument establishing it, however various forms of advocacy have encouraged States to establish a minimum age under which engaging in sexual contact is considered a criminal offence. This is intended to prevent sexual contact with children and to prevent argument that the child consented as a defence.
Often national provisions related to the age of sexual consent include an exception, known as a close-in-age exemption, making consensual sexual activities between young people lawful if the partners are of similar ages and the age difference is not higher than a certain number of years.
To ensure that cases of child sexual exploitation do not go unpunished, ECPAT advocates for the age of sexual consent to be set at 18 for both males and females with a close-in-age exemption of 2-3 years provided in order to ensure young people are not penalised for consensual sexual acts with peers. The age from which the exemption applies should be established by States but may begin for young people somewhere between 12 and 16 years of age.
Yes The national legislation explicitly indicates that the age of sexual consent unequivocally is 18 for both males and females, with a close-in-age exemption for sexual acts between peers (of up to 3 years) is provided by law.