Mauritius may be on the way to signing the SADC Gender Protocol

The passing of the new Local Government Act in 2011 may have opened a way for Mauritius to sign the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

Because of lobbying and advocacy around the then Local Government Bill and resultant constitutional amendment to allow for affirmative action as well as pressure from the Mauritius Alliance Network to sign, the Prime Minister of Mauritius committed to signing the SADC Gender Protocol. This he did at a meeting with the Gender Links Mauritius and Francophone Director, Loga Virahsawmy held in January 2012.

The piece of legislation does not only advance Articles 12 – 13 of the Protocol on governance but there are threefold benefits of this innovative Act. It will not only enhance women’s participation in politics at local level but also sets a creative model for the SADC region and open the way for Mauritius to sign the SADC Gender Protocol according to Dev Virahsawmy in an article to commend the Mauritius government. Click here to read more