Distinguished guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

I am honoured to be amongst you this morning for the launching of the Human Rights Forum 2024. The Forum is taking place within the 16 Days Activism to end Gender-Based Violence that will last up to the International Human Rights Day on December 10^th.

Let me at the very outset congratulate the Ambassadors of our Youth Sounding Board for organising this important forum debate on human rights.

The EU-Mauritius Youth Sounding Board is a network of 26 youth members working with the EU Delegation in Mauritius in line with our Youth Action Plan for a meaningful youth participation and empowerment of our external actions for sustainable development.

The outcome of today’s forum will be used by our Youth Members to prepare a reflection paper. We intend to submit this paper to the relevant ministry for consideration in the course of the elaboration of the government programme.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Human rights are at the core of the EU’s policies and activities both within and outside the EU.

They are universal, indivisible and interdependent, and rights to which every individual is entitled without distinction.

Human rights are applicable everywhere and at all times, including in times of conflict or crisis.

All human rights are equally important to ensure human dignity, whether they are civil, cultural, economic, political or social rights.

This one-day Forum is a great opportunity to gather civil society organisations, representatives from public institutions and academic circles as well as young people to discuss about Human Rights issues.

Today we focus our discussions with particular emphasis on three thematics of high relevance, notably:

• Gender based violence
• Children’s rights
• Disability rights.

As regards Gender Based Violence:

You will agree with me that the facts are shocking.

I have here on the screen few figures that depicts the situation in Europe following a recent survey whose results were published in November 2025.

One in three women in the EU experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime;

In Mauritius, the situation is also alarming with a 33% increase in reported cases of domestic violence compared to last year figure.

Our commitment to end violence against women around the world is a key priority for our external action.

Today, through this forum debate, together with our youth ambassadors, we want to join the global campaign UNITE TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.

Its theme this year “Every 11 Minutes, a woman is killed” draws attention to femicides in particular, to affirm our steadfast dedication to the eradication of violence against women and girls, both within and beyond the European Union.

We stand in solidarity with our partners, civil society, women's rights groups, and human rights defenders, echoing their demand for justice and accountability.

As a fundamental Right, gender equality and non-discrimination are core values of the Union enshrined in the Treaty on European Union as well as the Charter of Fundamental Rights;

Let me remind you that the EU acceded to the Istanbul Convention last year, marking a major step forward in making Europe a safer place for women and girls. The EU as a whole is now bound by comprehensive standards to prevent and combat gender-based violence.

As regards children’s rights, Mauritius’ legal machinery to ensure the protection and healthy development of its children took a leap forward with the Children’s Act 2020, which prohibits child marriage, recognises online platforms as a facilitator of child abuse and exploitation, and bans corporal punishment.

However, despite efforts by the Mauritian government, civil society, and other stakeholders, many children still face threats such as poverty, discrimination based on ethnicity or disability, sexual exploitation, and abuse. The recent harrowing story of the two underage girls, one who even endured unspeakable abuse at the hands of his uncle, sent shockwaves throughout the island, a powerful reminder of the need to confront deep-rooted issues endangering the welfare of children.

From December 2022 to May 2024, 13,539 cases of child abuse have been registered at the Child Development Unit (CDU).

The root causes often revolve around precarity, dropping out of school, unstable family backgrounds, negligence, or sexual trauma. I think today is an opportunity for our second panel to reflect on these causes to identify the real challenges and propose recommendations.

The Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2024 marks a significant milestone in the fight for equality, dignity, and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWD) in Mauritius. It caters for 86,607 persons with disabilities in Mauritius, representing 6.8 per cent of the population as per the 2022 Population Census in the Republic of Mauritius.

While the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2024 is undoubtedly a landmark achievement, continuous advocacy is required to ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are heard at the decision-making table to make this legislation truly meaningful.

I would like to comment our youth members who have deemed it relevant to dedicate one panel discussion on the new Disability Act 2024. Indeed, it will be an opportunity to raise awareness and address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.

CONCLUSION

I am sure that today’s forum debate will be an opportunity for you all to share your experience and provide recommendations that we can take up at higher level for consideration in our campaign for a longer strategies to address the issue of human rights.

I thank you all for your attention and wish you fruitful deliberation.