Mauritius 9Th-10Th Combined Periodic Report 2016-2019.Pdf
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AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS NINTH TO TENTH COMBINED PERIODIC REPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS (JANUARY 2016-AUGUST 2019) Republic of Mauritius 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 GENERAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................... 7 A. DEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MAURITIUS ............................................................................................................................................ 7 B. CONSTITUTIONAL, POLITICAL AND LEGAL STRUCTURE OF MAURITIUS....................... 9 THE CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE ................................................................................................... 9 THE LEGAL STRUCTURE ...................................................................................................................... 9 THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF MAURITIUS ................................................................................... 10 THE SUPREME COURT ........................................................................................................................ 11 THE SUBORDINATE COURTS ............................................................................................................. 11 INTERMEDIATE COURT ...................................................................................................................... 11 INDUSTRIAL COURT ........................................................................................................................... 12 THE DISTRICT COURT ........................................................................................................................ 12 THE JUVENILE COURT ....................................................................................................................... 13 THE BAIL AND REMAND COURT ...................................................................................................... 13 THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL ..................................................................... 13 FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ................... 14 ACCEPTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS NORMS .......................................................... 14 LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL .................................................................................................................................................... 19 NEW INSTITUTIONS AND MECHANISMS ........................................................................................... 20 NATIONAL LEGISLATIONS ................................................................................................................. 21 FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH HUMAN RIGHTS ARE PROMOTED AT NATIONAL LEVEL .... 25 HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS ............................................................................................................. 25 I. THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN ........................................................................................... 25 II. THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ....................................................................... 26 III. THE OMBUDSPERSON FOR CHILDREN’S OFFICE (OCO) ..................................................... 30 IV. THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMISSION (EOC) .............................................................. 31 V. INDEPENDENT POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMISSION ............................................................. 32 1 VI. THE OMBUDSPERSON FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES ............................................................... 33 DISSEMINATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS ............................................................... 33 HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS ......................................................................................................... 33 INFORMATION ON NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUALITY AND EFFECTIVE REMEDIES ................... 34 MEASURES TO PROHIBIT INCITEMENT TO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ........................................... 36 TRUTH AND JUSTICE COMMISSION .................................................................................................. 37 PERSON WITH DISABILITIES ............................................................................................................... 38 PROTECTION OF ELDERLY PERSONS................................................................................................. 42 PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE GROUPS ........................................................................................... 44 SOCIAL REGISTER OF MAURITIUS .................................................................................................... 45 RIGHT TO HOUSING ........................................................................................................................... 46 REHABILITATION SCHEMES .............................................................................................................. 48 THE GRANT FOR THE CASTING OF ROOF SLAB ............................................................................... 49 PURCHASE OF BUILDING MATERIALS SCHEME ............................................................................... 49 RIGHTS OF MIGRANT WORKERS ....................................................................................................... 51 CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS ......................................................................................................... 55 ARTICLE 1- RECOGNITION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RIGHTS, DUTIES AND FREEDOMS UNDER THE CHARTER .................................................................................................................................................... 55 ARTICLES 2 & 3- NON DISCRIMINATION AND EQUALITY BEFORE THE LAW ....................................... 56 ARTICLE 2............................................................................................................................................... 56 ARTICLE 3............................................................................................................................................... 56 ARTICLE 4 - RIGHT TO LIFE AND INTEGRITY OF A PERSON .................................................................... 57 CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY ........................................................................................................... 57 DEATH PENALTY ................................................................................................................................ 57 UNWANTED PREGNANCY .................................................................................................................. 57 FERTILITY CENTRES .......................................................................................................................... 58 INTEGRITY OF THE PERSON ............................................................................................................... 59 ARTICLE 5- RIGHTS TO RESPECT OF HUMAN DIGNITY, PROHIBITION OF SLAVERY; SLAVE TRADE; TORTURE CRUEL INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT .................................................................. 59 TREATMENT OF PRISONERS ............................................................................................................... 61 2 FORCED LABOUR AND WORKING CONDITIONS ................................................................................ 62 MIGRANT WORKERS- ‘KNOW YOUR RIGHTS’ PAMPHLET .............................................................. 64 COMBATING TRAFFICKING AND ALL FORMS OF SERVITUDE ........................................................... 64 SENSITIZATION AND AWARENESS RAISING ON TIPS ....................................................................... 66 ARTICLE 6 & 7 -RIGHT TO LIBERTY, SECURITY AND FAIR ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE .................. 68 ARTICLE 6............................................................................................................................................... 68 ARTICLE 7............................................................................................................................................... 68 ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE ........................................................................................................... 70 ARTICLE 8 - FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND CONSCIENCE ..................................................................... 72 PROHIBITION ON THE WEAR OF “TIKKA”- (CASE OF MRS S.D V/S THE RESIDENCE MAURITIUS HOTEL) ............................................................................................................................................... 73 ARTICLE 9- RIGHT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION AND RIGHT TO EXPRESS OPINION ......................... 73 ARTICLES 10 & 11- RIGHT TO FREE ASSOCIATION AND FREE ASSEMBLY ....................................... 76 ARTICLE 10 ............................................................................................................................................ 76 ARTICLE 11 ............................................................................................................................................ 76 ARTICLE 12 -RIGHT TO FREE MOVEMENT ..........................................................................................