Mauritius presents Gender Country Profile for 2021-2027
Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – The Mauritian Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs. Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah, on Thursday, presented the Gender Country Profile (GCP) for the period 2021-2027.
The profile seeks to catalyse progress on empowering women and girls, and safeguard gains made on gender equality since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and its Platform for Action in September 1995.
Quoting the Minister, the Government Information Service (GIS) said that the Report comprises six thematic policy areas set out by GAP III: ensuring freedom from all forms of gender-based violence; promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights; promoting economic and social rights and empowering girls and women; integrating the women, peace and security agenda; addressing the challenges; and harnessing the opportunities offered by the green transition and the digital transformation.
According to her, the GCP aims to reduce existing inequalities and establish a baseline to present the achievements and challenges regarding gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE) and assess in a holistic manner.
“The Country Profile will also support the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare in its mandate to spearhead and coordinate gender mainstreaming in development policies, programmes and implementation of strategies and plans,” she added.
Mrs. Koonjoo-Shah observed that Mauritius continues to make progress in advancing women and girls rights and the attainment of gender equality in the country.
Speaking about the GEWE, Mrs. Koonjoo-Shah stated that they are recognised as a pre-requisite for socio-economic development in the gender normative framework such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; the Beijing Platform for Action; as well as the 2030 Development Agenda.
Mrs. Koonjoo-Shah observed that the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Reports for Mauritius show an improvement in the overall ranking at 110th position in 2021 amongst 156 countries worldwide compared to 115 in 2020.
“This reflects an improvement due to the good standing of Mauritius on Educational Attainment, and Health and Survival indicators,” she added.
She pointed out that Mauritius is doing well on freedom of movement, women’s decision to work laws, women’s earnings laws, women’s entrepreneurship and gender equity in property and inheritance.
According to the 2022 index of the report published by the World Bank on Women, Business and the Law, Mauritius was ranked 1st out of 53 African countries and 41st worldwide, she indicated.
-0- PANA NA/MA 13May2022
