courts and the perpetrators imprisoned. He emphasized that the problem related
to the practical application of the anti slavery law was the absence of legal aid
since the victims are often too poor and ignorant to report or even prosecute
slavery cases.
Visits to Places of Detention, 29 March 2012
73. This section of the Report gives a brief description of the detention facilities
visited by the CPTA delegation. The delegation visited three detention facilities
in Nouckchott. They are listed below and described in the order in which they
were visited. The facilities include:
Dar Naim’s Prison
Women’s Prison, Beyla
Borstal Youth Centre
74. The first prison to be inspected by the CPTA delegation was the Dar Naim’s
Prison in Nouakchott. The premises which are located in a 20-hectare piece of
land comprise 12 big units, housing all male prisoners. Before the inspection, the
CPTA delegation held brief discussions with the Director Mrs Dellite Mint
Zeyine and Mr Madda Ould Mohamed, the Manager of the prison. After the
brief exchange of courtesies, Mrs Dellite Mint Zeyine informed the Delegation
that the prison has an approved capacity of 804, but as of March 2012 held 643
male inmates of which 343 were awaiting trial detainees. The most common
offences were use of drugs, use of alcohol and stealing.
75. The Delegation was given a tour of the facilities. During the inspection Mrs
Dellite Mint Zeyine showed the Delegation prisoners who were awaiting trial for
over two years. Many of them complained to the delegation that they cannot
afford a lawyer. A tour of the facilities revealed that some cells were very
seriously overcrowded. Some of the inmates sleep on the floor with mattresses
that are paper thin. The Delegation inspected two toilets that could be described
as a health risk. The Director complained that most of the structures are old and
date from the colonial period.
76. The prison has a clinic with 1 full time doctor, 13 nurses and a pharmacist, which
was built by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The
delegation was also informed that food aid is provided by the ICRC to assist
about 113 malnourished and TB inmates. The doctor of the ICRC programme, Dr
26 | P a g e
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