Global IssuesDisarmamentEnvironmentHuman RightsChildrenCountry SituationsGeneralIndigenous PeoplesOther TopicsRacial and religiousReformTreatiesUniversal Periodic ReviewWomenInternational SecurityInternational OrganisationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastNorth AmericaPacific
Although we have tried to use plain English content on the site, you may come across specialist terms and acronyms. Find out what they mean in our glossary of terms.
If you come across a term that isn't included in the Glossary please send us an email.
New Zealand notes the positive steps that Mauritius is taking to improve its human rights record. In this regard New Zealand welcomes the government’s recently announced plan to establish an independent Police Complaints Authority, particularly given previous allegations of police brutality and violence to obtain confessions. New Zealand also notes the introduction of new measures aimed at clearing a backlog of court cases. It is unfortunate that in the past that some important cases, including rape trials, have been dismissed due to delays.
Despite such positive progress over recent years, New Zealand remains concerned however about the situation of more vulnerable groups in Mauritius.
Noting that traditional attitudes and stereotypes concerning the roles and responsibilities of men and women in families and society continue to be a feature of Mauritian society, New Zealand recommends that the government continue its efforts to eliminate discrimination against women. Specifically, we recommend that Mauritius include provisions in its proposed Equal Opportunities Bill on the equal rights of women and men, provide girls with access to education facilities and resources equivalent to those available to boys, intensify awareness raising campaigns on women’s rights and include marital rape as an offence under the proposed Sexual Offences Bill.
New Zealand notes with concern reports of a low proportion of children with disabilities attending school, and recommends that Mauritius take the necessary steps to allow early ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including measures to increase the proportion of children with disabilities attending school.
New Zealand is concerned about incidents of child abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse in Mauritius. New Zealand recommends that the government adopt measures for the prevention of sexual abuse and provide facilities for the care, recovery and reintegration for child victims of violence, and undertake further steps to eradicate child prostitution and child labour.
