Domestic Abuse Bill to strengthen legal protection framework in Mauritius

In a significant step towards strengthening the national framework for the protection of victims of abuse, Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Bill into the National Assembly. The main object of the Bill is to repeal the Protection from Domestic Violence Act and re-enact a more comprehensive and responsive legislative framework.

The Bill has been developed to address the evolving and increasingly complex forms of domestic abuse, ensuring that the legal system responds more effectively to the needs of victims. It seeks to widen the definition of domestic abuse to include, among others, economic, emotional and psychological abuse.

It further aims to enhance the protection and safety of victims and their children, prevent and reduce acts of domestic abuse to the greatest extent possible, while ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.

To achieve these objectives, the Bill makes provisions for an effective and more accessible judicial system for domestic abuse orders; improved information-sharing among relevant stakeholders to assess, manage and prevent the risk of domestic abuse; the introduction of rehabilitation programmes for perpetrators; and the creation of offences for contraventions of domestic abuse orders.

Cabinet has also taken note that the Attorney-General’s Office is working on amendments to the Criminal Code to include Femicide and Marital Rape as offences under the Act.

16 June 2026

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Topics: Gender