Minister Navarre-Marie reaffirms that Protection of women remains Government’s priority

The protection of women against all forms of violence, including domestic and intimate partner violence, remains a top priority for Government. It concerns public safety and the dignity, rights and wellbeing of our citizens, as well as the stability of our families and society.

The Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, made this statement today at the National Assembly, in reply to a Private Notice Question pertaining to the protection of women and the measures to be undertaken for a healthy, stable and sustainable society.

The Minister reaffirmed Government’s resolute determination to treat domestic violence as a crime and not a private matter adding that such crimes will not be tolerated, minimised, or ignored. In this context, she announced the introduction of a new Domestic Abuse Bill aimed at strengthening the legal framework to better protect victims, ensure accountability of perpetrators, and contribute to the eradication of domestic violence.

The Bill, she stated, seeks to enhance the protection for victims, improve access to justice, and address the root causes of domestic violence. It represents a major step forward in the national response to domestic abuse, introducing a modern, victim-centred legal framework adapted to evolving social realities, she said. The Bill is centred around four pillars namely modernised legal definitions of domestic relationships and forms of abuse; mandatory reporting framework for timely intervention; accelerated protection mechanisms for victims in crisis situations; and rehabilitation measures for perpetrators to reduce recurrence.

The legislation, stressed Minister Navarre-Marie, will be further reinforced by amendments to the Criminal Code concerning cases of femicide. Referring to the National Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2025, she underscored that femicide must be recognised as a human rights crisis in Mauritius, rather than as isolated incidents.

Moreover, inter-institutional coordination among Family Support Services and the Brigade for the Protection of the Family, social services, and non-governmental organisations is being enhanced to ensure timely and effective assistance for victims. According to her, the Parental Strength Circle project has also been implemented as part of the family support programme to prevent at-risk situations from escalating, while efforts are being leveraged to encourage reporting and strengthen vigilance at the local level through Community Child Watch structures.

In view of promoting family well-being and addressing Gender-Based Violence, she highlighted that the Ministry is implementing a series of capacity building programmes and awareness raising campaigns through Social Welfare Centres and Community Centres. Early detection mechanisms have also been reinforced, with frontline workers including teachers, social workers, and police officers trained to identify and respond to early warning signs of abuse, she added.

14 April 2026

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Topics: Gender