Mauritius Report
MAURITIUS NATIONAL PROGRESS REPORT OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON CHILDREN – “A WORLD FIT FOR CHILDREN”
MINISTRY OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY WELFARE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
December 2006
1
National Progress Report of the Special Session of the General Assembly on Children – “A World Fit for Children”
INTRODUCTION
Since 1991 the Ministry of Women’s Rights, Child Development, Family Welfare and Consumer Protection is mandated to cater for children in the cohort of 0-18 years. It is responsible for designing, implementing national policies, programmes and projects relating to children. Children policies have over the years, expanded much beyond child survival and basic education: policies now encompass other aspects of child development including protection and child rights. Children have the right to have their basic needs met, not only for survival and protection but also to be able to develop their full potential to participate as members of society and to grow up to be caring and responsible citizens. As at July 2005, the number of children was estimated to 364,757 over the whole population of 1,243,253, accounting for 29.3% of the population in the Republic of Mauritius. (source: Central Statistics Office ) Mauritius has ratified several important international human rights and instruments. It acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in July 1994 and ratified the Convention in 1985. Mauritius has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC) in 1990 and ratified the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Labour. In 1993, the Government signed the Hague Convention on Civil aspects of Child Abduction. The Optional Protocol to the CEDAW, the Optional Protocol on the CRC on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts and the Optional Protocol on the CRC or the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography has been signed in November 2001.
MINISTRY OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY WELFARE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
December 2006
1
National Progress Report of the Special Session of the General Assembly on Children – “A World Fit for Children”
INTRODUCTION
Since 1991 the Ministry of Women’s Rights, Child Development, Family Welfare and Consumer Protection is mandated to cater for children in the cohort of 0-18 years. It is responsible for designing, implementing national policies, programmes and projects relating to children. Children policies have over the years, expanded much beyond child survival and basic education: policies now encompass other aspects of child development including protection and child rights. Children have the right to have their basic needs met, not only for survival and protection but also to be able to develop their full potential to participate as members of society and to grow up to be caring and responsible citizens. As at July 2005, the number of children was estimated to 364,757 over the whole population of 1,243,253, accounting for 29.3% of the population in the Republic of Mauritius. (source: Central Statistics Office ) Mauritius has ratified several important international human rights and instruments. It acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in July 1994 and ratified the Convention in 1985. Mauritius has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC) in 1990 and ratified the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Labour. In 1993, the Government signed the Hague Convention on Civil aspects of Child Abduction. The Optional Protocol to the CEDAW, the Optional Protocol on the CRC on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflicts and the Optional Protocol on the CRC or the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography has been signed in November 2001.