Africa-Press – Mauritius. The two-day validation workshop on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill concluded its activities, today at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port-Louis, in the presence of the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie.
The event was also attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Jean Daniel Philippe Labonne; the Head of the Family Welfare and Protection Unit, Mrs Jayseeree Bhunjun; as well as representatives from relevant ministries, public sector institutions, civil society organisations and other key stakeholders.
Organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the workshop served as a consultative platform to review, discuss and validate the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill. The aim was to examine its provisions, gather feedback and formulate recommendations to strengthen the legislative framework for preventing domestic abuse and protecting victims, in line with national priorities and international standards.
In her address, Minister Navarre-Marie highlighted that the workshop provided a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to share proposals, suggestions and views, all of which would help refine the draft Bill. She noted that further consultations would be held with other partners before the Bill is finalised after which it would be presented to Cabinet for approval.
The Minister drew attention to the alarming rise in domestic violence cases, urging victims to come forward while reassuring them that appropriate support would be provided. She also confirmed that marital rape would be recognised as an offence in the Bill, reflecting years of ongoing efforts to address this issue. Moreover, Mrs Navarre-Marie encouraged individuals who are not affiliated with any NGO or Ministry to submit suggestions on improving the Bill via email at [email protected] by 06 February 2026.
Referring to international best practices, the Minister explained that the “one-stop shop” model was inspired by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in South Africa, which eventually led to the creation of Family Support Services (FSS) in Mauritius. She urged victims to make use of Hotline 139 in cases of violence and called on the public to report any incidents of domestic abuse. She further appealed to the police and all relevant stakeholders to fully assume their responsibilities and respond effectively to cases of domestic violence.
Family Support Services
FSS is a nationwide network of 12 centres providing comprehensive, one-stop support for families, children, and victims of gender-based violence. Its services include immediate assistance, psychological and parental counselling, legal guidance, shelter, and protection order support. FSS also delivers child protection and welfare services, such as foster care, mentoring, tardy birth registration, and follow-up reintegration programs. Services are available 24/7 via hotlines (113, 119, 139), the mobile app LESPWAR, on-call personnel and site visits, ensuring accessible, immediate and holistic support to families and individuals in need.
