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:
L�AFRIQUE DEVIENT LA NOUVELLE DESTINATION A LA MODE DES TOURISTES GAYS
by Jerina Chendze Messie 23/9/2009
AFRIQUE � 22 Septembre 2009: L�Ile Maurice dans l�Oc�an Indien �merge comme la nouvelle destination � la mode des touristes gays. Selon le site Internet Gaydarnation.com, l�Ile Maurice est une destination spectaculaire et lointaine qui attire de nombreux gays venant de l�Afrique du Sud, d�Australie et de l�Europe.
AFRICA � A TRENDY GAY TOURISTS DESTINATION
by Jerina Chendze Messie 22/9/2009
ALL AFRICA � 22 September 2009: The island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean is emerging as the new trendy gay tourists� destination. The website Gaydarnation.com states that Mauritius is a spectacular far away destination that attracts more gay people from South Africa
MAURITIUS GAYS CELEBRATE FIRST PRIDE MARCH
by Jerina Chendze Messie 7/8/2009
MAURITIUS - 07 August 2009: More than 200 Mauritian gays took part in a smaller version of gay Pride in June, dubbed The March of gay visibility, which according to the organisers was a great success despite the island�s non recognition of homosexuality as a sexual orientation.
mauritius gay rights could see light
by Abeli Zahabu 4/11/2008
MAURITIUS � 4 November 2008: The fight for rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in the Indian Ocean�s small island of Mauritius is finally bearing fruits.
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
trauma for young lesbians on island of sun, sea and sand. by Mask Admin 29/8/2006
mauritian gays in rally against bias by Mask Admin 24/5/2006
mauritius sees first gay rights march by Mask Admin 22/5/2006
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