disqualification of enslaved groups from positions in the public and private sectors which require qualification and competence. Therefore, and despite the number (between 45% and 50% of the total population of the country), the Haratins are conspicuously absent and “invisible” in the political, economic, military and technical decision-making processes of the country, and continue at this pace to “produce” servants. Recommendations: Through the situation of the Haratins of Mauritania which we tried to describe, we believe that the following recommendations, among other conceptual framework propositions, can serve to develop a set of practical conclusions that can be implemented to correct situation of violations of the rights of minorities to education and to the respect of their specificities.  Slavery, being a vehicle of profound discrimination, especially at school, should be criminalised, and laws should be implemented that are strong enough to have a deterrent effect on pro-slavery groups who jeopardize the education of children and young people through their practices.  To recommend to all States to introduce compulsory school education for all children up to 16 years.  To abolish the traditional and feudal land tenure in order to enable traditionally marginalized communities to build schools to prevent the dependence towards dominant groups in this domain.  To establish a system of school canteens and of boarding to enable groups that suffer extreme poverty to send their children to school.  To adopt specific measures for groups and disadvantaged or marginalized regions to equip them with school infrastructures, teaching personnel, and their own programs in the case of linguistic, cultural, or religious particularities.  To provide teaching staff with training on the principles of human rights and the rights of minorities in particular.  To include culture and universal principles of human rights in the school curricula.  To establish language and cultural institutes in all multicultural, multilinguistic, and multi-faith countries.  To develop, under the responsibility of the State, research on minority cultures and education in their languages. Geneva, Palace of the United Nations, 15 December 2008