Vision 2050: Workshop regroups stakeholders to advance women’s rights and access to justice

As part of the activities to mark the International Women’s Day 2026, a workshop focusing on “Justice in Practice: A Multi-Stakeholder Workshop on Women’s Rights in Vision 2050” and bringing together around 60 women from Non-Governmental Organisations, institutions, academia and the civil society, opened this morning at the Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel in Port-Louis.An initiative of the UN in Mauritius, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, the workshop aims to advance dialogue on women’s and girls’ rights, access to justice and the translation of commitments into meaningful action.The Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie; the Attorney-General, Mr Gavin Patrick Cyril Glover; the Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning, Dr Jyoti Jeetun, and the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Ms Lisa Simrique Singh, were present on the occasion.In her address, Minister Navarre-Marie reiterated that violence against women will not be tolerated highlighting that Government is determinant to introduce the Domestic Abuse Bill to ensure that the legislation is robust, effective and responsive to the realities of domestic violence. She noted that while Mauritius has made meaningful progress in strengthening the legal and policy framework for gender equality, further efforts are required to ensure that women and girls are able to effectively exercise their rights.The Bill, she indicated, will further reinforce coordination within the justice system, while placing greater emphasis on prevention and timely protection of victims. In the same vein, she dwelt on Government's Vision 2050 calling it a collective commitment to urge stakeholders to act further, faster and more boldly to ensure that no woman is left behind. The Vision, added the Minister, seeks to build an inclusive society that respects the dignity of every woman, empowers women and expands their access to economic opportunities.The Attorney-General, for his part, reaffirmed the commitment to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including equal protection under the law and equal access to justice for all. He highlighted that gender equality is a fundamental component of democratic governance and sustainable development.According to him, institutions must examine their own structures, policies and practices to ensure that they promote fairness, accountability and inclusivity. Mr Glover also called for improved access to justice for women and girls, enabling them to exercise their rights effectively and without fear.As for Minister Jeetun, she highlighted that gender mainstreaming across all sectors remains essential to address challenges comprehensively and to support inclusive economic development. She stressed the importance of addressing issues such as gender-based violence, bullying and marital rape, and ensuring that legal and institutional frameworks effectively protect victims.With regard to Vision 2050, she reiterated that it represents long-term development roadmap and a social contract with the next generation. She emphasised that the Vision must create space for people’s voices to be heard, particularly those of women, and recognise their leadership and contributions to national development. Ms Singh underscored that policies and constitutional provisions must be assessed not only by their existence, but by the extent to which rights are accessible and effectively protected in practice. Gender empowerment, she observed, also requires the active engagement of men as partners, facilitators and advocates for change in the mindset of the society. The Vision 2050 framework, she said, places justice and the empowerment of women at its core to ensure a resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.

10 March 2026

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Topics: Gender