Nicolas Ritter: Paving the way for an equal Mauritius

Nicolas Ritter: Paving the way for an equal Mauritius

Nicolas Ritter, an HIV & Human Rights activist, is the Executive Director PILS and the Vice Chair Coalition Plus. PILS is the largest HIV organisation of Mauritius while Coalition Plus unites different NGOS fighting against HIV.

Nicolas, a man of art who has an immense love for theatre, musicals and films, has initiated many projects which have shaped and are still shaping the social landscape of Mauritius and the lives of people. He is the founder of PILS (1996), the Founder of Sida Info Maurice Hotline (1997), the founder of the first PLHIV network in Mauritius (2002), the founder of the first PLHIV network in the Indian Ocean (2003), the Co-Founder of CUT, the first and only Harm Reduction organisation in Mauritius (2004), and the Co-Founder of Collectif arc en Ciel, the first LGBT organisation in Mauritius (2005). He is the first Mauritian to publicly disclose his HIV+ status (2001). As the Executive Director of PILS, he is working towards ensuring the health and rights of the LGBT community. He is also the Ambassador Rise and Shine (E.U) and the Co-founder of the Rainbow Parade in Mauritius.

Nicolas seeks to contribute to engender social change in Mauritius, the Indian Ocean and the world through the work that he does at PILS and at Coalition Plus. Stopping new HIV & HCV infections, allowing access to the best treatment for all people, irrespective of one’s class, ethnicity and gender, and ending stigma attached to HIV and HCV are some of the motifs which drive him to redouble his efforts. Nicolas believes in equal rights and he is leading a combat along with his team to allow everyone to enjoy the same rights and to bring a change in policies.

His unflinching determination and efforts led to access of ARV for all patients in 2002. He pushed for the creation on the National Aids Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, contributed to the HIV & AIDS Act, to the introduction of Needle Exchange Programs and other Harm Reduction Services and in bringing changes in the Civil Status Act.

His future plans consist of carrying out Capacity building exercises in the Indian Ocean region and contributing to change drug laws and policies in Mauritius. He is also advocating against the study/working ban for HIV positive foreigners in Mauritius and against article 250 (sodomy laws). Another key vision is to help in raising the visibility of Trans Women and Men who are a community which is increasingly marginalized in society.