discrimination

Powerful Ways of YUVA to Re-Invent Education in India

Education and empowerment are vital cogs in a society’s quality of life. The status of a nation’s education and how it empowers its citizens aids poverty alleviation. Improving education and empowerment programmes serves the greater good and is sustainable. YUVA has adopted powerful ways to re-invent education in India. In this article, we will show you how.

How to Tackle Inequality and Discrimination in Africa

Gender Inequality and discrimination in Africa are inextricably linked. This article evaluates solutions to addressing homophobia and inequality.

The Challenges of LGBTQIA+ Communities in Africa

The LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual) communities have made profound workplace rights progress. This is very visible in Western countries.

Huge corporations pledged support for LGBTQIA+ communities against the anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation proposed in the United States. In Africa, the challenges are the same but in an entirely different context. This article looks at the specific difficulties queer communities face daily.

Rights of LGBQTIA+ Community in Africa, Explained

The rights of the LGBQTIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual) community in Africa are minimal. In 2015 the International Gay and Lesbian Association reported that homosexuality was outlawed in 30+ African countries.

In the past ten years, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Lesotho and the Republic of Seychelles have legalised same-sex relationships. We took a closer look at the challenges LGBQTIA folk face in African countries.

Focus of Zero Discrimination Day 2022: Women and Girls

On Zero Discrimination Day this year, UNAIDS is fighting against the discrimination girls and women face by generating awareness and motivating activities to empower them.

On 1 March 2022, Zero Discrimination Day will be held under the theme “Zero Discrimination against Women and Girls.” The symbol for Zero Discrimination Day is the butterfly, extensively used among individuals to tell their experiences and pictures to eradicate prejudice and strive towards improvement.

A Call for Social Justice in Digital Economy: World Day of Social Justice 2022

Celebrated on 20 February every year, the theme of World Day of Social Justice 2022 is “A Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy.”

The objective of this day is to promote awareness of global inequality and gather people from different walks of life throughout the globe to abolish poverty, biological discrimination, sexual identity, lack of education, and religious intolerance to establish an equal community.

LGBTQ+ Situation in Mauritius: A 2021 Report

Despite existing anti-discriminatory legislation and rising acceptance among Mauritius’ population, specifically the younger generation, the Mauritius LGBTQ+ community continues to endure discrimination in their personal lives, workplaces, and society.

This is primarily due to conservative beliefs and the stigma associated with homosexuality in Mauritian society.

10 Ways Through Which Kids Can Reject Body-Shaming

Although no one is born perfect, hearing criticisms about one’s physical appearance is something that even children experience.

Body image is developed at a very young age, with children as young as 3 to 5 years old beginning to worry about their appearance and even express dissatisfaction. It can be challenging to avoid children getting exposed to “the ideal body type” in society.

5 Ways to Tackle Body-Shaming in Mauritius

Body-shaming has long been a part of the Mauritian culture. Whether it is done intentionally or unintentionally, no one should feel self-conscious about their weight, clothing size, skin colour, or physical form just because they do not have what society considers to be “the ideal body type.”

As a result, unrealistic cultural ideals and unfavourable media depictions of body image negatively impact not only a person’s self-worth and self-esteem but also their mental health. Social anxiety, depression, and eating disorders are some of the issues that might arise. Therefore, tackling body-shaming is one of the ways to improve mental health in Mauritius.

1 March: Zero Discrimination Day

On Zero Discrimination Day this year, YUVA is highlighting the urgent need to take action to end the inequalities surrounding income, sex, age, health status, occupation, disability, sexual orientation, drug use, gender identity, race, class, ethnicity and religion that continue to persist around the world.

Inequality is growing for more than 70% of the global population, exacerbating the risk of division and hampering economic and social development. And COVID-19 is hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest—even as new vaccines against COVID-19 are becoming available, there is great inequality in accessing them. Many have equated this to vaccine apartheid.

1 December: Rock the Ribbon this World Aids Day

COVID-19 has demonstrated that, during a pandemic, no one is safe until everyone is safe. Leaving people behind is not an option if we are to succeed.

Eliminating stigma and discrimination, putting people at the centre and grounding our responses in human rights and gender-responsive approaches are key to ending the colliding pandemics of HIV and COVID-19.

World Mental Health Day 2020: Social Media Campaign for Mauritius

This year’s World Mental Health Day, on 10 October, comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The past months have brought many challenges: for health-care workers, providing care in difficult circumstances, going to work fearful of bringing COVID-19 home with them; for students, adapting to taking classes from home, with little contact with teachers and friends, and anxious about their futures; for workers whose livelihoods are threatened; for the vast number of people caught in poverty or fragile humanitarian settings with extremely limited protection from COVID-19; and for people with mental health conditions, many experiencing even greater social isolation than before. And this is to say nothing of managing the grief of losing a loved one, sometimes without being able to say goodbye.

International Day of PeaceCelebrated on 21 September: Shaping Peace Together

Celebrate the International Day of Peace by spreading compassion, kindness and hope in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stand together with YUVA against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred. Join us so that we can shape peace together.

The International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.

The Situation of HIV/AIDS in Mauritius

According to estimates, a total number of 329 cases of HIV/AIDS cases were detected in the year 2016 in which 319 cases were Mauritians and 10 cases were foreigners. The yearly positivity rates of HIV recorded seem to be 0.36% for the year 2016, which concludes that the total number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Mauritius is 6671. Statistics clearly indicate that men have the highest prevalence of HIV as out of the 6671 cases 5061 are men and 1610 are women. Since 1987 Mauritius has reported approximately 953 deaths due to HIV. Continue reading “The Situation of HIV/AIDS in Mauritius”

LGBT Rights in Mauritius: Mauritius Youth Parliament, Session 2

This house believes that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights in Mauritius are legally complicated and vague.

Although the law is silent on the topic of homosexuality and gender identity itself, sodomy is illegal and banned by the laws of the county. The nation was one of the 66 signatories of support for the UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity. Furthermore, although same-sex relationships are not recognised, LGBT people are protected from any kind of discrimination with the constitution guaranteeing the right of individuals to private life.

Laws about same-sex sexual activity

According to the Section 250 of the Mauritius Criminal Code of 1838, “Any person who is guilty of the crime of sodomy […] shall be liable to penal servitude for a term not exceeding 5 years.”

The age of consent in Mauritius is 16. Article 249 ‘Rape, attempt upon chastity and illegal sexual intercourse’ of the Penal Code: (…) Any person who has sexual intercourse with a female ‘under the age of sixteen (16), even with consent, shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding ten (10) years.

Discrimination

The Equal Opportunities Act 2008 prohibits employers from discriminating against persons based on their sexual orientation, with “sexual orientation” being defined to mean “homosexuality (including lesbianism), bisexuality or heterosexuality”.

Adoption of children

According to a 2006 report, adoptive parents may be either single or married. LGBT persons are not specifically disqualified.

According to a website of the French government, single and married people are eligible to adopt children. The website does not say whether LGBT people are disqualified.

LGBT rights organisations

In Mauritius, there are several organisations for the LGBT community.

Founded in 2005, Collectif Arc en Ciel (“Rainbow Collective”) is the primary organisation for the LGBT community in Mauritius. The party fights homophobia and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Founded in 1996, Pils is a centre for individuals with HIV/AIDS in the country, and also a place for the prevention and education of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Founded in 2014, the Young Queer Alliance is a youth-led organisation mainly for support, empowerment and protect the young LGBTQIA in Mauritius.

Founded in 2011, Association VISA G is an organisation mainly for Transgender people in Mauritius. VISA G is involved in legal support and empowerment of Trans.

Summary table

Same-sex sexual activity legal	However anal sex is illegal punishable with 5 years imprisonment.
Equal age of consent
Anti-discrimination laws in employment only	Since 2008
Anti-discrimination laws in the provision of goods and services
Anti-discrimination laws in all other areas (Incl. indirect discrimination, hate speech)
Same-sex marriages
Recognition of same-sex couples
Step-child adoption by same-sex couples
Joint adoption by same-sex couples
Gays and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military
Right to change legal gender
Access to IVF for lesbians
Commercial surrogacy for gay male couples
MSMs allowed to donate blood

Invitation

YUVA invites you to attend the debate on this whole issue of LGBT Rights in Mauritius as the topic for the Session 2 of Mauritius Youth Parliament (MYP).

Facebook cover: LGBT Rights in Mauritius, Mauritius Youth Parliament, Session 2

Poster: LGBT Rights in Mauritius, Mauritius Youth Parliament, Session 2

Note to participants

You can use the language you are most comfortable in;
Disagreements are bound to occur during the debate, but make sure you respect others’ point of view;
The session will be photographed and photographs will be posted on public online forums; and
You can send your questions on this topic by commenting below in this post.