infrastructures and facilities for the rehabilitation of children. The CPTA considers this center as a model to be replicated elsewhere. xi. The CPTA also notes the active role by many civil society organizations in the fight against slavery and advocacy on improving detention conditions. Areas of Concern 112. The CPTA recognizes that many of the problems Mauritania faces currently regarding issues of slavery, torture and detention conditions is due to resource constraints as well as social conditions and its history. The CPTA also recognizes that the Government has duly assumed its responsibility to address some of the problems and has made commendable progress in this respect. This notwithstanding the CPTA remains concerned about certain shortcomings that need urgent redress. The CPTA is concerned that: i. The Government’s position regarding slavery that but for its legacy, slavery does not exist in Mauritania. This position is highly contradictory given that Government has put in place a series of legislative frameworks and various measures to respond to the crime of slavery. Such a position which negates the reality of the existence of slavery in Mauritania only helps to impede efforts to eradicate the practice. ii. The practical application of the anti slavery law is very minimal and that most stakeholders charged with applying the law have not been adequately sensitized on its contents. iii. The shortcomings in the law itself which does not make provision for compensation or assistance to victims of slavery and other measures of emancipation such as training and jobs. iv. The lack of a legal framework criminalizing torture in accordance with the CAT and RIG is a major concern to the CPTA. The CPTA considers that the state party must go beyond a formal prohibition of torture and other forms of ill-treatment in the constitution, and enact specific legislation that sets out all the elements of the crime, the punishment for perpetrators as well as measures to cater for the needs of victims. v. The many reports of torture allegedly perpetrated by law enforcement agents that were brought to its attention during the visit, especially those 37 | P a g e