ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF MAURITIUS

Press Release
HR/4253

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS COMMITTEE CONCLUDES CONSIDERATION OF REPORT OF MAURITIUS

GENEVA, 28 November (UN Information Service) -- The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon concluded its consideration of the initial report of Mauritius, hearing additional responses from that country's delegation.

The delegation told Committee members that economic growth and current welfare schemes in Mauritius had done much to alleviate individual poverty. Economic progress had also brought on other sociological developments, including changes in the traditional extended family system. Since both husband and wife might work far from the household, for example, the traditional role of the husband had to be redefined.

In response to the increasing problems of prostitution and drug addiction, the delegation said those issues were matters of great concern. In addition, there was much debate now on how to deal with the question of abortion, which was prohibited by law; so far, there was no consensus. With regard to drug addiction, the delegation noted that Mauritius was a crossroads for the transport of drugs. Nevertheless, the Government had made efforts in its struggle with this problem. It was also stated that the death penalty was still applied to drug traffickers.

Regarding the abuse of alcohol and drugs, the Government, in collaboration with voluntary agencies and organizations, had created several rehabilitation centres. Nineteen per cent of the male adult population suffered from alcohol problems, it was said. The Government had launched a vast programme of information on the negative impact of alcohol abuse and drug use.

The delegation of Mauritius pointed out that a regionalized system of health services operated in Mauritius and in the island of Rodrigues. But the inhabitants of Rodrigues still suffered from the inconvenience of having to travel to Mauritius for hospitalization when they required specialized services. On the protection provided to persons with mental disorders, the delegation stated that the old law, the Lunacy Act of 1906, would soon be replaced by a new one. The Lunacy Act was limited in scope and dealt to a

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large extent with the removal of non-criminal patients to hospitals and their detention there. The Act said little as to the protection and welfare of patients outside the hospital compounds.

Primary school was compulsory and free in Mauritius, the delegation continued. All primary-school children were provided with a midday snack, which encouraged regular school attendance. There were 281 primary schools for a population of 125,000 children, aged 5 to 12.

Several experts asked why Creole had been discarded as a medium of teaching in schools. The delegation replied that Creole was widely used among the population, but the Government had decided to use English and French in the more formal setting of schools.

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