A/HRC/11/36/Add.2 page 12 38. Without exception the Mauritanian authorities highlighted the political will of the current Government to resolve the problems inherited from the practices of the past that have had profound consequences for society today, in particular unresolved humanitarian issues and slavery. In that context many references were made to the solemn declaration by the President of the Republic of 29 June 2007, which was welcomed by both the political authorities and civil society representatives, and in which he expressed his compassion for all the victims of those years and reaffirmed the State’s desire to ensure a dignified return for all fellow citizens who wished to return and to find a definite solution to the humanitarian situation. 39. The President of the Republic himself, during his meeting with the Special Rapporteur, said that determination was essential for the consolidation of national unity and the strengthening of social cohesion, which were his two highest priorities. He said that he was convinced that Mauritania could set an example in promoting union and unity among all communities in its population. That same political will was expressed by the Prime Minister, who told the Special Rapporteur that he was determined to overcome the heavy legacy of the past and make Mauritania a nation in which all its citizens, whatever their ethnic origin, could feel they belong to the same nation and have the same rights, obligations and equality of opportunity. In that regard he explained the reforms the Government intends to undertake, in particular in the educational sphere, to ensure that this political will and vision will lead Mauritanian society to harmonious coexistence, without any form of ethnic, tribal, social or other tension. 40. The officials who met with the Special Rapporteur emphasized the efforts being made to promote all languages and cultures in Mauritania. While they are aware of the polarization in the past of the black Mauritanian and Arab Mauritanian communities along ethnic lines, they strongly deny the existence of language policies that might give an advantage to a particular community and encourage social polarization. The Minister of Education for example recalled that since 1999 there has been a single education system for all children, whatever their ethnic or tribal origin. She also drew attention to the current programmes of the Ministry of Education, including the holding in the near future of a national conference on education to review the values and objectives the education system should transmit, and the launching of initiatives aimed at eliminating any discriminatory content from teaching materials. The Minister likewise stressed the importance, in the context of the voluntary return of Mauritanian refugees from Senegal, of developing an educational strategy to fashion a common history based on a feeling of belonging and on the acceptance by all communities of the unity of the Mauritanian nation. 41. Most of the officials who met with the Special Rapporteur stated that slavery was no longer practised and had left merely traces, underpinned to a large extent by underdevelopment, poor living conditions and poverty. In order to eradicate these remnants of slavery - which in many cases were not very different from the problem of castes, which affected all communities the authorities stressed the importance of the new law criminalizing and penalizing slavery. They noted that a number of supporting measures will be introduced to implement the law, including the creation of mechanisms for the social and economic reintegration of the victims of slavery and a wide-ranging public awareness campaign. 42. Most of the members of the Government mentioned that there is no discrimination in access to employment in the public or private sectors and gave examples showing that all ethnic