Mauritania: Civil society demands a timeline for the adoption of the 'Karama' law against violence against women

On September 24, 2026, Mauritanian civil society organizations submitted a memorandum to the authorities demanding a clear timeline for the adoption of the so-called 'Karama' ('dignity') law, which is intended to combat violence against women and girls, according to France 24.

These associations are denouncing an upsurge in sexual violence in the country. The bill, already approved by the government, has remained blocked in the National Assembly for several years.

Ten years of deadlock

The history of this bill is long. According to VOA Afrique, an initial version was approved by the government in March 2016, then rejected by the National Assembly in January 2017, before being rejected again in December 2018 by the parliamentary committee in charge of Islamic orientation.

The text notably provided for tougher penalties for rape, the criminalization of sexual harassment, specialized judicial chambers, and the ability for associations to act as civil parties. Its opponents had notably rejected the notion of 'gender,' which they deemed foreign to the country's values.

Renamed 'Karama,' the bill has since been reworked. According to Le360 Afrique, it was prepared in collaboration with the High Council for Fatwas, which was not enough to disarm the opposition of conservative religious figures who deem it contrary to Islam. Certain provisions, such as those concerning authority within a couple, remain particularly debated.

A challenge for victim protection

For activists, the absence of a specific framework leaves victims without sufficient protection. Human Rights Watch had highlighted, according to VOA Afrique, that under current Mauritanian law, a rape victim unable to prove a lack of consent could find herself prosecuted for extramarital sexual relations.

The ball is now in the court of the government and the deputies. Civil society is awaiting a response regarding a date for the bill's review. For Story Africa, the Mauritanian debate illustrates a struggle being waged across the continent: protecting the dignity of women and girls is a duty of the State toward its citizens, while respecting the values of society.