105. The delegation held a press conference at the end of the Promotion Mission, which was attended by journalists from both print and electronic media. Members of the African Commission explained to the members of the press about the African Commission, how it was established, its mandate of promoting and protecting human rights and the various activities the African Commission undertakes to carry out its mandate. The Chairperson also explained the purpose of the Promotion Mission that she and the other two other Members of the African Commission had just undertaken. 106. The delegation informed the press that in their meetings with the various authorities from both the government and human rights organizations, they had discussed issues and exchanged views relating to the implementation of human rights under the African Charter in the country. The delegation also informed the press that they were able to follow up on various matters including Mauritania’s meeting its obligations in terms of submitting its report in accordance with Article 62 of the African Charter. The Chairperson informed the press that the government of Mauritania had welcomed the Mission to the country and facilitated it and that frank and open discussions were held with the various government authorities. OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS 107. This section of the Report provides the general observations and findings of the CPTA Promotion Mission based on the visit and information gathered from the meetings and discussions with the different stakeholders. 108. At the end of the consultations, the CPTA delegation met with a representative range of persons who were directly or indirectly involved with human rights. Through frank and open discussions that the Mission Team had with political and administrative authorities, parliamentarians, civil society activists as well as the police and some individuals, it could be said that there is a genuine political will to put the matrix of the issue of human rights at the centre of the concerns. 109. The CPTA is further aware that though considerable progress has been made in the promotion and protection of human rights since the promulgation in 2006 and 2012 of a new constitution and a new Criminal Procedure code, from its various meetings and interviews, it notes that the overall human rights situation in Mauritania raises very serious concerns. It notes that years of political turmoil, 34 | P a g e