Mauritius: Affirmative action clause prevents signing of SADC Protocol

Port Louis, 24 June: The SADC Gender Protocol Summit, organized by Gender Links, is currently underway in Mauritius. The second day of deliberations has allowed for insightful commentary on the position of Mauritius with regards to its non-signing of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. In fact, Mauritius cannot sign this treaty due to its Constitution protecting against all forms of discrimination. This Protocol, calling for affirmative action, does indeed lie contrary to the Constitution, at least in legal terms. However, Colleen Lowe Morna, GL CEO says, “Mauritius does not disagree with the spirit of the Protocol.”

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Kelvin Suddason is in his second year at the University of Mauritius. He’s part of the selected students of Gender Links working on its special newsletter on the national Mauritian Summit.