A meeting chaired by Alan Ganoo, Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade on the 07 August 2023 at 10 30 hours, in the Conference Room of the Human Rights Division, 7th Floor, St James Court, Port Louis.
This working session was done with key human rights stakeholders as part of the consultations being held to finalise the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Report 2023:
• Mr Harry Ganoo, G.O.S.K, Ombudsman
• Mrs Rita Venkatasawmy, O.S.K, Ombudsperson for Children
• Dr Mitrajeet Dhaneshwar Maraye, F.C.C.A, Ombudsperson for Financial Services
• Mr Ramesh Sunt, Ombudsperson for Sports
• Mrs Deviyanee Beesoondoyal, G.C.S.K, Chairperson – Independent Police Complaints Commission
• Mr Louis Richard Toulouse, Member of the Equal Opportunities Commission
The Universal Periodic Review is a unique process driven by the Human Rights Council which involves the review of Human Rights records of all UN Member States. It is an opportunity for States to inform of actions taken to uphold human rights.
Mauritius is required to submit its next Universal Periodic Review Report to the Human Rights Council for the 4th Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review Exercise in October 2023.
The consultation process to come up with the Report started in October 2022 with working sessions held by the Human Rights Division with Ministries/Departments, whereby the importance of the report and the information required were explained.
In January 2023, the Hon Minister A.Ganoo led the consultations held with members of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly. He personally chaired two meetings of the National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow Up with stakeholders and NGOs earlier this year in February 2023 to explain the UPR process and call for inputs. A press communique was thereafter issued in February/ March 2023 to invite submissions from civil society. A workshop was held on 19 June 2023 with relevant Ministries/Departments to review inputs received.
It is to be noted that following review of the 3rd UPR Report for Mauritius, which was submitted on 13 August 2018, Mauritius received a total of 176 recommendations out of which 133 recommendations were supported, whilst 43 were noted. The recommendations were shared with stakeholders for necessary action to be taken to address same.
