CERD/C/65/CO/5 Page 5 control over private schools is conducive to the teaching of the languages and cultures of minority groups. The Committee recommends that the State party respect parents’ freedom to choose the type of education they wish for their children and to choose for their children private schools that offer programmes meeting their expectations in terms of culture and language. 22. The Committee is concerned about the delegation’s statement that the Berber language is no longer spoken in Mauritania. According to some reports, a minority still uses this language, which is in danger of disappearing from the country. The Committee recommends that the State party, in consultation with the community concerned, take steps to preserve the Berber language. Room should be made for Berber language, history and civilization in school textbooks, education and cultural events. 23. The Committee notes that no case of racial discrimination has been brought before the national courts and is concerned that victims’ opportunities to obtain a remedy are inadequate. It recalls that the fact that victims of racial discrimination do not complain to a court is not necessarily a positive indicator, and can be the result of, inter alia, the limited resources available to victims, their lack of awareness of their rights, their lack of confidence in the police and the judicial authorities, or the authorities’ lack of attention or sensitivity to cases of racial discrimination. The Committee recommends, in particular, that the State party conduct an independent and impartial inquiry when allegations of discrimination and slavery-like practices are brought to its attention. The State party should inform the victims of all remedies available to them, facilitate their access to justice, guarantee their right to just and adequate reparation, and publicize the relevant laws. 24. The Committee welcomes the delegation’s statement that a consultative process is under way with regard to the establishment of a national human rights commission. The Committee encourages the State party to establish such a commission in accordance with the Principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles) (General Assembly resolution 48/134). 25. The Committee regrets that it did not receive sufficient information on the training of judges, lawyers and law enforcement officers, in particular, training to combat discrimination, including discrimination based on descent, and to combat the vestiges of slavery. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt a specific strategy in this respect.

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