The The seven winners will present their good practices in Johannesburg

Gender Justice and Local Government Summit and Awards

The Mauritius Local Government and Gender Justice Summit and Awards of Gender Links was held during two days at Hotel Gold Crest in Quatre Bornes, announced the winners on Wednesday night, 7th March 2012. On 18 participants, seven have been nominated. They will present their practices at the Regional Summit of Gender Links on 23 and 24th April in Johannesburg. They will then compete with other winners of the SADC countries.

The winners are: Isabelle David of LEAD in the Support category of gender based violence (GBV), Eddy Jolicoeur of Men Against Violence in the Prevention category of GBV, Megha Veerachetty of Fam Exampler of Response category of GBV, Sangeeta Seetulparsad for Local Economic Empowerment, Danny Philippe in the Leadership category, Ruben Munien of the Municipal Council of Curepipe for Climate Change and Sustainable Development and Brigitte Michel of AILES (Aids, Information, Liberty, Hope and Solidarity) in the HIV and AIDS category.

Before the handing over of the Certificates by Hon. Herve Aime, Minister of Local Administration, Loga Virahsawmy, Director of Gender Links of Mauritius, highlighted that although this is the third Summit that Gender Links is organising, it is the first time that a National Summit has been organised. Members of the audience had to right to only one vote per category while members of the jury had a set of criteria to give their marks.

Loga Virahsawmy asked Kritee Ram, Special Adviser on politics of the Prime Minister’s Office to make an official request from all participants, the audience and members of the jury that the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development be signed since amendments have been made to the Constitution to allow at least 30% men or women to stand as candidates for local government elections. “This justifies the signature of the Protocol.”

Herve Aime talked about the long road travelled by women since 1970 and said that the Local Government Act will allow a bigger participation of women at local level and they will be good politicians. “Local Government is a popular University in miniature. If a person starts at local level that person will become a good politician.”

Gender Links (Mauritius)
7th March 2012