Republic of Mauritius LGBTQI an2d p0ol0iti0 i-n t2he0 10 · Mauricien (MMM) and the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM) to hinder the Sexual Offences Bill 2007. ... sSoedoxmuya lS

2000-2010LGBTQIandpoliti intheRepublicofMauritius

BAROMETER

INTRODUCTIONLGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius2000-2010

©YoungQueerAlliance|www.youngqueeralliance.com

page|1LGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius:2000-2010Barometer

SummaryofpoliticalpartiesandLGBTQIrightsratingsSummaryofpoliticalpartiesandLGBTQIrightsratings

AgainstLGBTQI Pro-LGBTQI

MauritiusLabourPartyPartiMauricienSociale

DémocrateMouvementMilitantMauricien

MouvementSocialisteMilitant

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

EXECUTIVENOTE

LGBTQI.. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and thewhat-not acronyms and alphabets used to identify thepluralsexualidentitiesofanothergroupofmarginalisedandoppressedindividualsinsocieties;andtheLGBTQIarenoexceptiontolegal,institutional,social,cultural,political,etc.hardshipsduetotheirrealorperceivedidentities.

MovingforwardLGBTQIrightswhileensuringlivingconditionsinlinewithhumanitarianandsocialstandardsdemandsanalysisof the fluctuations in politics and policies related to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Mauritius and other relatednational,regionalorinternationalbodies.Movingbeyondanalysisisdiffusionoftheinformationtoenablecriticaldialogueandthinkingwhile altogether situating the respective responsibilitiesof andgivingdue credit to concernedpolitical actors in thestruggle..suchthatnomanisleftmarginalised;thatnosocietyfeelsdiminishedbythelossofoneoftheirs.

Often,policymakers,organisationsandactivists,mediapeopleandotheractorsconcernedtoLGBTQIrightsandconditionsinone way or the other lack the necessary information to support them in their tasks. Furthermore, accountability of decisionmakersisanotheraspectthatneedstobepromoted.

LGBTQIandpolitics in theRepublicofMauritius:2000 -2010Barometer isaground-breakingnon-partisan research ledby theYoungQueerAlliance'sresearchcentretocontinuouslymonitorthepoliticalevolutionconcerningLGBTQIinMauritius.

YQApresentsitsthankstotheResearchCentreandteamforthemassiveworktheydidbydedicatingtheirvolunteertimeandknow-how.

YoungQueerAllianceResearchCentre

RESEARCHMETHODOLOGY

KEYFINDINGS

AIDSAcquiredImmunodefficiencySyndromeHIVHumanImmunodeficiencyVirusLGBTQILesbian,Gay,Bisexual,Transgender,QueerandIntersexMMMMouvementMilitantMauricienMMSDMouvementMauricienSocialDémocrateMSMMouvementSocialisteMilitant(alsoMenhavingSexwithMeninHIV/AIDSjargon)PMSDPartiMauricienSocialeDémocratePMXDPartiMauricienXavierDuvalPSMPartiSocialisteMauricienPTrPartiTravaillisteSOGISexualOrientationandGenderIdentityUNUnitedNations(alsoUnionNationalewhenreferringtoaminorpoliticalgroupinMauritius)

SUMMARYLGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius2000-2010



LISTOFABBREVIATIONS

->Duringtheperiod2005-2010undertheAllianceSocialegovernmentledby2005-2010primeministerDr.NavinchandraRamgoolam,LGBTQIrightsstartedtobeimplementedandflourishdespitethenon-passingoftheSexualOffencesBill2007inparliament.Firstlawsmakingprovisionofsexualorientationwereimplemented.->Religiousand/ormoralityand/orpublicsensitivityand/orculturalargumentshavebeenusedbyboththeMouvementMilitantMauricien(MMM)andtheMouvementSocialisteMilitant(MSM)tohindertheSexualOffencesBill2007.->Lawsandpoliciespasseddidnottargetspecificallysexualorientationbutincludedsexualorientationamongagroupofstatuses.->GenderIdentityhasnotbeenconsideredinlaws.->in2008,firsttimeMauritiussignedtheUnitedNationsdeclarationonSexualOrientationandGenderIdentity.

TheLGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius:2000-2010BarometerisaYoungQueerAllianceledchronologicalbarometer,whichisnon-partisanandindependentthatcompilesdatafromvarioussourcessuchasGovernmentofMauritiuswebsite&publicationsandnewspaperarticlesamongothersbasedon:a)publicdeclarationsofmembersofparliamentandrepresentativesofthemainpoliticalpartiesinMauritiusnamelythePartiTravailliste,MouvementMilitantMauricien,MouvementSocialisteMilitantandPartiMauricienSocialeDémocrate;b)LawstabledattheNationalAssemblyofMauritius;andc)BillspresentedbyconcernedGovernments.

NOTE:Uponwrittenandsubstantivesubmissionsbyconcernedpoliticalparties,incaseofadditionsoramendment,upwardsordownwardsratingsinsubsequentbarometersmightbeconsidered.

2007

2000-2005

TIMELINE

2006

2008

2009

2010

LGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius2000-2010MauritiusLabourParty(PartiTravailliste-PTr)

MainoppositionpartyNostandrelatedtoLGBTQI

during2000-2005

GeneralElections2010GeneralElections

PTr-MSM-PMSDcoalitionv/s

MMM-UN-MMSDcoalition

Continuedthe2000-2005HIV/AIDSinclusiveresponseforMenhavingSexwithMen

HIV/AIDSPrevention

PresentationoftheSexualOffencesBill2007forholisticapproachtosexualoffencesaswellasstrikingoffofanti-sodomySection250oftheCriminalCode

SexualOffencesBill2007

WithdrawaloftheSexualOffencesBill2007duetofierceoppositionfromtheMouvementSocialisteMilitant(MSM)andtheMouvementMilitantMauricien(MMM)

WithdrawalofSexualOffencesBill2007

EnactmentofEmploymentRightsAct2008forequalemploymentopportunitiesandanti-discriminationincludingonthebasisofone'sSexualOrientation

EmploymentRightsAct2008

VotingoftheEqualOpportunitiesAct2008/12havingforprovisionsequalopportunitiesandprotectionagainstdiscriminationirrespectiveofone'ssexualorientationamongotherstatusessuchasrace,religion,sex,caste,etc.

EqualOpportunitiesAct2008/12

EnactmentofEmploymentRelationsAct2008makingprovisionforanti-harassmentonthebasisofSexualOrientation

EmploymentRelationsAct2008

MAURITIUSLABOURPARTY

History

TheMauritiusLabourParty(PartiTravailliste-PTr)wasfoundedonthe23rdFebruary1936havingforvisionthestruggleforsocial,politicalandeconomicalrightsoftheworkingclass.

Principles

TheMauritiusLabourPartyhasworkedtowardsamodernMauritiusbyfavouringhumandignity,freedomandsocialjustice.Since1936,somerealisationsofaprogressivepoliticswere:

-Workersdignityandrights-Universalvotingrights-Accessiontoindependence-Universalpension-Freehealthcareforall-Freeeducationforall-Promotionofgenderequality-Liberalisationofradiostations-Democratisationoftheeconomy-Freepublictransportation-Socialallocationsforthemostvulnerableofsociety

CommentsandRatings

ThePTristhefirstpoliticalpartyinMauritiustoincludelawsandpoliciesforLGBTQIinMauritiusthatmentionSexualOrientationandhavetakeninclusivesocialapproachestolawsandpolicies.However,theyhavenotincludedGenderIdentityandExpressionorIntersexinlaws.

InfavourofLGBTQI|7votesAgainstLGBTQI|1vote


2005SeniorGoverningParty(2005-2010)

2005GeneralElectionsMMM-MSMcoalition

v/sPTr-(ex-)PMXDcoalition

underAllianceSociale

AllianceSocialeelectedinparliamentasGoverningparty

withPTrasseniorpartner

page|3

2010

ImplementedpoliciesforCivilServants/PublicOfficersintheCodeofEthicsofCivilServantstoprovideforEqualOpportunitiesServicesandanti-discriminationpoliciesincludingonSexualOrientation

CodeofEthicsofCivilServants2010

LGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius:2000-2010Barometer

Supportedthe2008UnitedNationsDeclarationonSexualOrientationandGenderIdentity

UnitedNationsDeclarationonSOGI

TheMauritianSocialDemocraticParty(PartiMauricienSocialDémocrate-PMSD)wasfoundedonthe6thApril1955.ItwasformerlyknownastheMauritiusUnionfrom1946to1956.Itisacentre-righttorightleaningconservativepartydrawingitssupportpriortoindependencemainlyfromChristiansandMuslims.

ThePMSDwasledbySirGaëtanDuvalpostcolonialera.ThePMSDsplitduringthe1990'sandtheMauritianPartyofXavierDuval(PartiMauricienXavierDuval-PMXD)wasformedin1998.In2009,thePMXD(alreadyjuniormemberoftheAllianceSociale)wasdissolvedandmergedtoformaunifiedPMSDtojointheAllianceSocialegovernment.

2007

2000-2005

TIMELINE

2006

2008

2010

2009

LGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius2000-2010MauritianSocialDemocraticParty(PartiMauricienSocialDémocrate-PMSD)

OutofparliamentNostandrelatedtoLGBTQIduring2000-2005

GeneralElections

2010GeneralElectionsPTr-MSM-PMSDcoalitionv/sMMM-UN-MMSDcoalition

Continuedthe2000-2005HIV/AIDSinclusiveresponseforMenhavingSexwithMen

HIV/AIDSPrevention

PresentationoftheSexualOffencesBill2007forholisticapproachtosexual

offencesaswellasstrikingoffofanti-sodomySection250oftheCriminalCode

SexualOffencesBill2007

WithdrawaloftheSexualOffencesBill2007duetofierceoppositionfromtheMouvementSocialisteMilitant(MSM)andtheMouvementMilitantMauricien(MMM)

WithdrawalofSexualOffencesBill2007

EnactmentofEmploymentRightsAct2008forequalemployment

opportunitiesandanti-discriminationincludingonthebasisofone'sSexual

Orientation

EmploymentRightsAct2008

VotingoftheEqualOpportunitiesAct2008/12havingforprovisionsequalopportunitiesandprotectionagainstdiscriminationirrespectiveofone's

sexualorientationamongotherstatusessuchasrace,religion,sex,caste,etc.

EqualOpportunitiesAct2008/12

EnactmentofEmploymentRelationsAct2008makingprovisionforanti-harassment

onthebasisofSexualOrientation

EmploymentRelationsAct2008

MAURITIANSOCIALDEMOCRATICPARTY

History

Principles

ThePMSDhasmarkedhistorybybeingprobablythe'sole'majorpoliticalpartyinMauritiustobeagainstIndependencebutfavouredthatMauritiusstayedunderBritishcolony.However,aftertheaccessiontoindependencein1968,thePMSDjoinedthePTrtoensuresocialcohesionaswellastoprotecttheinterestsoftheoligarchinMauritius.

ThePMSDisattributedtohavingdevelopedtheTourismSector,theExportProcessingZone,andtextileinMauritius.IntermsofrespectofHumanRightstolife,thePMSDisopposedtoCapitalPunishment/DeathPenalty.

CommentsandRatings

ThePMSD(alsoPMXD)didnotcomeupwithanyrecordedlaws,statements,projectsconcerningLGBTQI.AllmotionsinparliamentpassedbytheAllianceSocialegovernment-inwhichtheywerejuniorpartner-werehowevervotedbythem.

NOTE:DespitenosupportfromthePMSDtowardsLGBTQI,giventhattheyvotedlawsforLGBTQIthatthePTrpassed,wearegivingmarkingsonbenefitofdoubt.



2005 JuniorGoverningparty(2005-2010)

2005GeneralElectionsMMM-MSMcoalitionv/sPTr-(ex-)PMXDcoalitionunderAllianceSociale

AllianceSocialeelectedinparliamentasGoverningpartywithPMXDasjuniorpartner

page|4

2010

ImplementedpoliciesforCivilServants/PublicOfficersintheCodeofEthicsofCivilServantstoprovidefor

EqualOpportunitiesServicesandanti-discriminationpoliciesincludingon

SexualOrientation

CodeofEthicsofCivilServants2010


Supportedthe2008UnitedNationsDeclarationonSexualOrientationand

GenderIdentity

UnitedNationsDeclarationonSOGI

2007

2000-2005

TIMELINE

2006

2008

2009

2010

LGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius2000-2010MauritianMilitantMovement(MouvementMilitantMauricien-MMM)

GoverningPartyMMM-MSMcoalition

electedasgoverningparty.

SirAneeroodJugnauthwasPrimeMinisterfrom2000-

2003

PaulRaymondBérengerheldPrimeMinistership

from2003-2005

GeneralElections2010GeneralElections

PTr-MSM-PMSDcoalitionv/s

MMM-UN-MMSDcoalition

Started2000-2005HIV/AIDSinclusiveresponseforMenhavingSexwithMen(mainlyunderPaulRaymondBérengerprimeministership)

HIV/AIDSPrevention

OpposedtheSexualOffencesBill2007-relatedtosomeextentwithrepealingofSodomyarticleintheCriminalCode.

OpposedSexualOffencesBill2007

MAURITIANMILITANTMOVEMENT

History

TheMauritianMilitantMovement(MouvementMilitantMauricien-MMM)wasfoundedinSeptember1969byagroupofstudents.Itisaleft-wingandsocialistpoliticalparty.ItoriginatedandemergedfromtheClubdesEtudiants.Duringitsearlyyears,theMMMwasastrongbackboneofworkers'andstudents'struggle.Ithaswontwo60-0electionsin1982and1995.ItisapartythatisdeeplyrootedinMauritianpoliticsashistoricallythemainoppositionparty.

Principles

TheMauritianMilitantMovementhasworkedseamlesslyforworkersrightsandemancipation,forstudentsrightsandmainlyfortheconsolidationofdemocracyandtheconstitution.Itisalsoabarrieragainstcommunalpolitics.Someofitsrealisationswere:

-Workersdignityandrights-Ensuringconstitutionalammendmentsforelectionstobeheldatleastonceeveryfiveyears-HelpedinmakingMauritiustransittoaRepublic-PromotingfreeandaccessibleeducationforallincludingtheZonesd'éducationprioritaireforstudentswhofailthetraditionaleducationalsystem-Sea-foodhubandcybercity-Fightingcorruption-Socialallocationsforthemostvulnerableofsociety

CommentsandRatings

TheMMMbelievesinafairersocietywithoutdiscriminationandforequalopportunitiesirrespectiveofthestatusofanindividual-suchasrace,ethnicity,colorofskin,gender,sexualorientation,etc.However,duringtheyears2006-2010,theMMMhadadividedpositiononrightsofpeoplebasedontheirSexualOrientation.



2005OppositionParty(Main)

2005GeneralElectionsMMM-MSMcoalition

v/sPTr-(ex-)PMXDcoalition

underAllianceSociale

PaulRaymondBérengerbecametheLeaderofthe

Oppositiontill4thApril2006

page|5

2010


PaulRaymondBérengerbecametheLeaderoftheOppositionagainonthe27thSeptember2007

OppositionParty(Main)

Presentedapaperonequalopportunitiesthemed"l'égalitédeschancesetparité"thatproposedequalopportunitiesatworkirrespectiveofone'ssexualorientationamongotherstatusesaswellasthecreationofanEqualOpportunitiesCommission

PaperonEqualOpportunities

2007

2000-2005

TIMELINE

2006

2008

2009

2010

LGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius2000-2010MilitantSocialistMovement(MouvementSocialisteMilitant-MSM)

GoverningPartyMMM-MSMcoalitionelectedasgoverningparty.

SirAneeroodJugnauthwasPrimeMinisterfrom2000-2003

PaulRaymondBérengerheldPrimeMinistershipfrom2003-2005

GeneralElections

2010GeneralElectionsPTr-MSM-PMSDcoalitionv/sMMM-UN-MMSDcoalition

Started2000-2005HIV/AIDSinclusiveresponseforMenhavingSexwithMen(mainlyunderPaulRaymondBérengerprimeministership)

HIV/AIDSPrevention

OpposedtheSexualOffencesBill2007-relatedtorepealingofSodomyarticleintheCriminalCode.

OpposedSexualOffencesBill2007

MILITANTSOCIALISTMOVEMENT

History

TheMilitantSocialistMovement(MouvementSocialisteMilitant-MSM)wasfoundedonthe8thApril1983afterawingoftheMMMsplitfromthemaindirection.Duringthattime,SirAneeroodJugnauthwasPrimeMinisterintheMMM-PSMcoalitionduetoPaulRaymondBérengerproposinganamendmentwherethepowersofthePrimeMinisterwouldbetransferredtothecabinetasanexecutivebody.

TheMSMhasbeenthegoverningpartyinMauritiusfrom1983to1995,2000to2005,2010to2011andend2014tillnow.Economicprosperityduringtheyears1980'sismainlyattributedtoSirAneeroodJugnauthwholedthecountryasPrimeMinister.

Principles

TheMilitantSocialistMovementismainlyattributedtoeconomicadvancementofMauritiusduringtheyears1980'sandaccessionofMauritiustoaRepublic.Someofitsachievementsare:

-HelpedinmakingMauritiustransittoaRepublic-Sea-foodhubandcybercity-InformationandTechnologyadvancement-EntrepreneurshipforSmallandMediumEnterprises-Socialallocationsforthemostvulnerableofsociety

CommentsandRatings

TheMSMinvolvementasapartyinlocalpoliticsismostlymarkedduringtheyears1980's.Few(ifnone)broaderhumanrightsaspectshavebeenraisedbytheMSM.ConcerningLGBTQIrights,eithertheMSMstaysmuchsilentonthematterortheyopposeLGBTQIrightsastestifiedin2007andonward.

InfavourofLGBTQI|1voteAgainstLGBTQI|1vote


2005 OppositionParty2005GeneralElectionsMMM-MSMcoalitionv/sPTr-(ex-)PMXDcoalitionunderAllianceSociale

TheMSMwasanoppositionparty.

page|6

2010


NandcoomarBodhabecametheLeaderoftheOppositionfromthe5thApril2006tillthe25thSeptember2007

OppositionParty(Main)

1.Hansard&GovernmentWebsite

1.MauritiusNationalAssembly:TheSexualOffencesBill,Availablefrom:https://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/English/Documents/bill0607.pdf[10March2017]2.MinistryofLabour,IndustrialRelations,EmploymentandTraining:EmploymentRightsAct2008,Availablefrom:http://labour.govmu.org/English/Legislations/Pages/Employment-Rights-Act-2008-and-Regulations.aspx[11March2017]3.MinistryofLabour,IndustrialRelations,EmploymentandTraining:EmploymentRelationsAct2008,Availablefrom:http://labour.govmu.org/English/Legislations/Pages/Employment-Relations-Act-2008-and-Regulations.aspx[11March2017]4.EqualOpportunitiesCommission:EqualOpportunitiesAct2008,Availablefrom:http://eoc.govmu.org/English/Documents/equal%20opportunities%20act%202008.pdf[12March2017]5.GovernmentofMauritius:CodeofEthicsforPublicOfficers,MinistryofCivilServiceandAdministrativeReforms.Availablefrom:http://amb.intnet.mu/English/Downloads/Documents/Code%20of%20Ethics%20for%20Public%20Officers.pdf[15March2017]6.ElectoralCommissioner'sOffice:NationalAssemblyElections,Availablefrom:http://electoral.govmu.org/English/electionresult/nasselec/Pages/default.aspx[18March2017]

2.Newspapers/e-news

3.OtherReferences



REFERENCESLGBTQIandpoliticsintheRepublicofMauritius2000-2010

1.PNQ-Homosexualit...,'PNQ-homosexualité:répartiesparlementaires…frigides',LeMauricien28June2011.Availablefrom:<http://www.lemauricien.com/article/pnq-homosexualite%C2%A0r%C3%A9parties-parlementaires%E2%80%A6-frigides>[14March2017]2.LeMSMciblelalégalisation...,'LeMSMciblelalégalisationdelasodomie',L'Express12April2007.Availablefrom:<https://www.lexpress.mu/node/193304>[14March2017]3.PravindJugnauthdénonceetcondamne,'PravindJugnauthdénonceetcondamne',5-Plus[n.d.].Availablefrom:<http://www.5plus.mu/node/12980>[14March2017]4.SodomyhaltsdebatesonSexualOffencesBill,'SodomyhaltsdebatesonSexualOffencesBill',L'Express12April2007.Availablefrom:<https://www.lexpress.mu/article/sodomy-halts-debates-sexual-offences-bill>[14March2017]5.Rape&TheSexualOffenses..,'Rape&theSexualOffensesBill:Aviewfromthewomen'smovement',Lalit25April2007.Availablefrom:<http://www.lalitmauritius.org/en/newsarticle/549/rapethe-sexual-offenses-bill-a-view-from-the-womens-movement/>[14March2017]

1.UniAssignmentHomepage,2017,TheEqualOpportunitiesAct2008LawEmploymentEssay,Availablefrom:<https://www.uniassignment.com/essay-samples/law/the-equal-opportunities-act-2008-law-employment-essay.php>[16March2017]2.Wikipedia,2008,UNdeclarationonsexualorientationandgenderidentity,Wikisource.Availablefrom:<https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/UN_declaration_on_sexual_orientation_and_gender_identity>[16March2017]3.Wikipedia,2017,ElectionsinMauritius,Wikisource.Availablefrom:<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Mauritius>[17March2017]4.MauritiusLabourParty,2014,LeParti,LePartiTravailliste.Availablefrom:<http://www.labourparty.mu/parti.html>[19March2017]5.MouvementMilitantMauricien,[n.d.],L'histoired'uncombat,Availablefrom:<http://mmm.mu/mmmmu/histoire-mmm/>[19March2017]6.MouvementMilitantMauricien,[n.d.],PrincipesfondamentalesduMMM,Availablefrom:<http://mmm.mu/mmmmu/principes-mmm/>[19March2017]7.MouvementSocialisteMilitant,2015,OurHistory-MSMParty,Availablefrom:<http://www.msmparty.com/>[19March2017]