Mauritius: Prime Minister calls on all Ministries to engage with the GBV indicators research findings

The Prime Minister of Mauritius,Navin Ramgoolam,has instructed his Ministers to engage with the key findings and to support initiatives that aim to stop gender-based violence following the release of the Gender Based violence (GBV) indicators study – War @ home: Mauritius country report.

The Minister of Health, Honourable Lormus Bundhoo, presented this message from the Prime Minister at the launch of the report on the29 November 2012. Seventy guests attended the event officiated by the Minister of Gender Equality, Honourable Mireille Martin.

Key findings of the research conducted between 2010 and 2011 with the collaboration of the Mauritius Research Council shows that almost one in four (24%) of women experienced some form of GBV at least once in their lifetime, while 23% of men admit to perpetrating some form of GBV at least once in their life time.

Women report a higher extent of experience compared to the extent of perpetration reported by men. Child abuse experience, conservative gender attitudes and alcohol abuse by men increases their risk of perpetrating GBV. 37% of women and 38% of men were aware of campaigns to end GBV. There is lack of an effective or functional referral system between service providers. GL has recommended the setting up of a clear referral system to track survivors from one service provider to the other.

“I have been separated from my husband for two years but under the same roof. This did not prevent him from breaking the door, tearing my clothes off and raping me,” Minita Emraj said in her personal testimony.

The research highlights that Mauritius is a highly patriarchal society where both women and men’s gender attitudes are not progressive especially on issues of sexual entitlement.

The Director General of La Sentinelle newspaper Denis Ithier, admitted that the coverage of GBV is too low in Mauritius at 2% according the 2010 Gender and Media Progress Study. He believes that all platforms must be used in a coordinated approach so that people are aware of GBV.

Click here to read the Mauritius report.