Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Eighty-second session

11 February – 1 March 2013

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports, comments and information

submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention

List of themes to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the fifteenth to nineteenth periodic reports of Mauritius (CERD/C/MUS/15-19)

Note by the Country Rapporteur

Summary

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination at its seventy-sixth session decided (A/65/18, par 85) that the Country Rapporteur will send to the State party concerned a short list of themes with a view to guiding and focusing the dialogue between the State party’s delegation and the Committee during the consideration of the State party’s report. The following is a list of themes in connection with the consideration of the above-mentioned periodic reports. It does not require written replies. This is not an exhaustive list as other issues will be raised in the course of the dialogue.

1.The Convention in domestic law and effectiveness of recourse (arts. 1, 2, 3 and 4)

(a)Status of the Convention in the State party’s domestic legal order;

(b)Prohibition of, and sanctions for, racial discrimination in the State party’s civil and penal legislation;

(c)Incorporation of the provisions of article 3 and 4 of the Convention;

(d)Court cases and cases under the Equal Opportunities Act as well as complaints lodged to the National Human Rights Commission related to racial discrimination. Effectiveness of existing remedies available to victims of racial discrimination.

2.Application of the Convention to the various communities (arts. 1, 2 and 5)

(a)Collection of data on the ethnic composition of the State party’s population and on the situation of the various communities;

(b)Special measures in law and in practice;

(c)Election system and political representation for the various communities.

3.Situation of the Creole (art. 5)

(a)Recognition and affirmation of the Creole identity;

(b)Representation in elected and appointed public bodies, availability of instruments of dialogue;

(c)Enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by the Creole;

(d)Implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Justice Commission.

4.Situation of other disadvantaged groups (art. 5)

(a)Measures in place for the improvement of the situation of Chagossians;

(b)Efforts to eliminate casteism;

(c)Protection of the rights of non-citizens working in the State party.

5.Education to combat prejudices and to promote understanding (arts. 2, 5 and 7)

(a)Awareness-raising on human rights and the Convention among the general population;

(b)Measures undertaken to address stigmatization of and prejudices regarding certain groups.