About Mauritius
 official name: Republic of Mauritius
capital: Port Louis
head of state: President Anerood Jugnauth (2003)
prime minister: Navin Ramgoolam (2005)
state: Parliamentary democracy within the British Commonwealth
population: 1,240,827 (July 2006 est.)
independence: from Britain in 1968
religion: Hindu 52%, Christian 28.3% (Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 2.3%), Muslim 16.6%, other 3.1%
languages: English (official), Creole, French, Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bojpoori
currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Legal Wise
status of homosexuality: illegal
age of consent: 15
laws covering homosexual activity: At first sight, there is no law which prohibits homosexuality. The Code Penal does not make any specific reference to homosexuality, nor does any other enactment. But the law does not permit "marriages" between people of the same sex.
The Sections of the Code Penal which may be of interest to you are as follows:
Section 250 Sodomy and bestiality
Any person who is guilty of the crime of sodomy or bestiality shall be liable to penal servitude for a term not exceeding 5 years.
Section 251 Debauching Youth
(1) Any person who offends against morality, by habitually exciting, encouraging, or facilitating the debauchery or corruption of youth of either sex under the age of 18 shall be punished by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year and by a fine not exceeding 2,000 rupees.
(2) Where such prostitution or corruption has been excited, encouraged or facilitated by the father, mother, guardian or other person entrusted with the care of youth so debauched, the punishment shall be imprisonment and a fine not exceeding 5,000 rupees.
Regarding the judicial system in Mauritius, there is a hybrid system of law, with the substantive law being inspired from French Law (Code Napoleon and Code Penal) whereas the adjectival law (evidence, criminal procedure) is inspired from British Law. All this is the legacy of having been a French as well as British colony. (message from Amnesty International, Mauritius to Olivier Jablonski)
["Sodomy" is taken to cover both women and men - but confirmation needed] Source ILGA
background information and government attitudes:
September 1997: British Columbia member of the Legislative Assembly Tim Stevenson caused an uproar at the recent meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius when he said he left his husband at home because homosexuality is illegal in Mauritius. Stevenson went on to call for creation of a Commonwealth Court of Human Rights to protect lesbians and gays in nations that ban gay sex, reported Xtra West.
Communication
main lines in use: 359,000 (2005)
cellular telephones: 713,300 (2005)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002).
Radios: 420,000 (1997).
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus several repeaters) (1997).
Televisions: 258,000 (1997).
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4,997 (2006)
Internet users: 180,000 (2005)
Articles:
 the blood donor system brands homosexuals
by Mask Admin 18/5/2007
MAURITIUS � May 18, 2007: Much remains to be done in Mauritius to ensure equal rights for all citizens. The questionnaire one has to fill before giving one�s blood is an example of discrimination against gays.
battle over sexual offences bill in mauritius
by Mask Admin 3/5/2007
MAURITIUS - May 3, 2007: The Sexual Offences Bill recently tabled at the Mauritian Parliament brought much heated debate from both sides of the house, as well as protests from religious leaders and professionals. The bill could also decriminalise consensual anal sex. Amid the outcry, the speaker has tasked a Select Committee to look into the bill in detail.
trauma for young lesbians on island of sun, sea and sand.
by Mask Admin 29/8/2006
MAURITIUS - August 29, 2006: Homosexuality is banned in all African countries, with the exception of South Africa. Even there, where sexual orientation is protected by the Constitution, gays are often subjected to violence and taunts.
mauritian gays in rally against bias
by Mask Admin 24/5/2006
MAURITIUS � May 24, 2006: Port Louis - Homosexuals on the conservative Indian Ocean island of Mauritius say they want protection against discrimination built into new human rights legislation.
mauritius sees first gay rights march
by Mask Admin 22/5/2006
MAURITIUS � May 22, 2006: Hundreds of gays and lesbians staged the first gay rights march on the largely conservative Indian Ocean island on Saturday, shocking afternoon shoppers in the bustling town of Rose Hill.
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