Loga Virahsawmy
7 September 2007
Port Louis — Real change to prevent gender violence in Mauritius is one step ahead, as a proposed National Action Plan on Domestic Violence is now on the agenda of the national Cabinet.
This major accomplishment shows that, when the government and civil society join hands, the outcome is very positive for society - in this case, vulnerable women and survivors of domestic violence Mauritius is taking a progressive step forward by combining the Action Plan of the ministry of Women's Rights, Child development and Family welfare on Domestic violence, with that created by Media Watch Organisation-GEMSA, to make a comprehensive national plan to address the problem of domestic violence. The country is in great need of such a plan. While police received 1,200 reports of domestic violence in 2006, experts in the field confirmed that this figure is likely double, as many women do not report out of fear or social stigma.
Of these 1,200 official cases, very few received adequate response. There are not enough shelters in Mauritius, and protection orders do not really protect women. Recently, a husband stabbed to death a woman who was under protection from him.
The list of horrific cases of violence against women is indeed too long for this tiny island country of l.2 million people. In one case, the body of a dead woman killed by her husband was found in a septic tank. In another case, a father killed his own daughter, whom he had also allegedly raped. We have seen an increase in incest cases on girls as young as four years old. Rising numbers of women living with HIV are also quite alarming. There is a link between gender violence, and HIV-AIDS that is often not recognised. The Action Plan is the culmination of a long, collaborative process. Most recently, a wide range of stakeholders validated the Plan at a workshopon 22nd August.
At that workshop, the minister of Women's rights, Child development and Family welfare, Indira Seebun, and the United Nations (UN) local representative, Claudio Caldarone reiterated their commitments to ending gender violence. "One case is too many," rightly pointed out minister Seebun. According to Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, Ombudsperson for children, "boys who are traumatised can keep perpetuating this violence, and girls may believe that this is normal." To prevent this, the Action Plan provides for awareness campaigns in schools and tertiary education. "Children, whatever their age, must be able to identify the symptoms of violence and know measures that can be taken," Cziffra said. Members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), religious bodies and the broad cross-section of government who participated in a three-day workshop convened by Media Watch Organisation-GEMSA and the South African-based Gender Links in October 2006 are now rejoicing.
Held under the banner "365 days of action to end gender violence", the October workshop identified a range of priority actions. These included the passing of a Sexual Offences Bill; simplification of procedures for implementing the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act and an audit of services available to survivors of sexual assault with a view to ensuring that survivors of gender violence have ready access to redress as well as comprehensive treatment and care under one roof. The Action Plan will address all of these.
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