NOUAKCHOTT, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Gulnara Shahinian, UN special rapporteur on the modern day slavery, is in Mauritania at the government invitation, official sources said on Sunday in Nouakchott.

"Mauritania just made slavery a criminal offence very recently in 2007. This visit will therefore give me a unique opportunity to examine the impact of the new legislation that was adopted," Shahinian declared to the local press.

During her visit, the rapporteur will meet with government and judicial officials, activists of NGOs, community representatives, university staff and people who are involved in the fight against slavery.

Shahinian will present the report concerning the results of her visit to Mauritania to the United Nations Council on Human Rights in 2010.

Incidences of slavery still persist in Mauritania, especially among the rural populations and on the periphery of big towns.

Organizations actively engaged the crusade against slavery, notably SOS Esclave of Boubacar Ould Messaoud, denounce the existence of "slavery centers" in many of the country's provinces.

These organizations call for measures to accompany the anti-slavery law, which was promulgated in 2007. They propose financial aid for the former slaves to make them engage in productive activities in society and the narrowing of the huge gap between various classes in society.