Vice-President calls for deeper engagement with African Charter amid social and economic challenges

The 40th anniversary of the entry into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights was commemorated, this morning, during a ceremony held at the Middlesex University in Flic-en-Flac. The Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Jean Yvan Robert Hungley, was present on the occasion.

The event is a joint initiative of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Middlesex University Mauritius, the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), the University of Mauritius (UoM) and Bagatelle Mall by Ascencia.

On the occasion, an institutional panel discussion examining the relevance of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Mauritius today, featuring panellists from the UoM, the NHRC, the EOC, the IPCC and the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children, was also held.

In his keynote address, the Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius emphasised the critical relevance of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights during times of societal strain, referring to the recent civil unrest. He recalled that adopted in 1981 and coming into force in 1986, the African Charter built on universal human rights, while recognising the rights of peoples, the responsibilities of individuals towards their communities, and that civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights were indivisible.

Mr Hungley stressed that these foundational principles were crucial when families struggled with the rising cost of living and water access, when unrest disrupted daily life, and when questions arose regarding police conduct. He noted that the Charter's guidance was equally vital when children faced prosecution and when communities felt stigmatised or excluded.

While Mauritius ratified the Charter in 1992, the Vice-President expressed regret that this commitment had not yet translated into sufficiently deep engagement. He pointed out that Mauritian institutions continued to lean heavily on British and European frameworks, arguing that the Nation must broaden its horizons.

"We must also draw on the expertise of the Global South—Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Oceania—whose societies have confronted comparable challenges of inequality, development, and social transformation," Mr Hungley stated. He underscored the importance of learning from African neighbours, noting that their jurisprudence and experiences could help Mauritius develop solutions grounded in local realities while remaining faithful to universal human rights standards.

Furthermore, the Vice-President called for an honest engagement with the Nation’s African heritage, pointing out that many Mauritians of African descent were descendants of enslaved people. "That history is not a footnote," Mr Hungley reminded, "but a fundamental component of any serious conversation about dignity, justice, and belonging in our Republic".

Concluding his address, Mr Hungley said that the African Charter explicitly recognised rights relating to health, education, development, and a satisfactory environment. He maintained that fulfilling these commitments required public policies and services tailored to citizens' actual circumstances, ensuring a model of development where both benefits and burdens were fairly shared.

Opening the panel discussion, the NHRC Deputy Chairperson, Ms Melany Nagen, highlighted that the 40th anniversary of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights demanded tangible results. “To achieve this, the NHRC, EOC, IPCC, and the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children are engaging in a historic collaboration to provide a unified, robust response for those seeking help,” she indicated.

Ms Nagen underlined that because human rights were deeply interconnected, a joint voice was impossible to ignore. “By sharing institutional trust, this partnership establishes a unified referral system, ensuring no one is ever turned away, alongside shared learning networks to quickly spot where rights are being eroded and joint outreach initiatives to better serve the community,” she added.

21 October 2026

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Topics: Human Rights

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