Children are both the makers and the markers of healthy, sustainable societies.

They are also the

earliest warning we get when things are going very wrong. They are the rst to suffer-the adult
sins of omission (neglect of their needs) and commission (violence and other violations of their
rights) and are often quick to show the effects. Children's nutrition, health, safety, education and
other rights are inextricably linked to future economic growth and shared prosperity, to a safe
and protected natural environment and to more stable societies.
Fulfilling the rights of children, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC),
is not only essential for the children for which they are intended, but are the critical foundation
for achieving robust, equitable and sustainable progress in the economic, social and
environmental dimensions of development.
Globally, there has been increasing recognition of the need for actors wishing to protect children
from abuse, exploitation, violence, and neglect and to support families to progress beyond issuespecific policies and programs for children and families towards a more integrated and systemic
approach.2 This shifting emphasis to a more holistic approach encompasses proactive and
preventative child and family welfare services rather than simply reactive interventions. Moving
beyond an exclusive focus on the individual child, interventions are being designed to take into
account the overlapping systems that support children, such as families, schools, communities,
civil society, and government.
Insofar as child protection is concerned, professional social workers with specialist skills to
identify and respond to child protection concerns according to policy, procedure, and care
standards have an essential role to play in ensuring that services are available to vulnerable
children and families. They require both the professional mandate and requisite powers to make
important decisions in a childs life, an authority that must be accompanied by a duty to protect.
Social workers must therefore have a clear description and understanding of their role and, most
importantly, the practical skills to undertake it. As the approach to planning and implementation
of services becomes increasingly systems-based, staff across government departments and nongovernmental agencies will require more clearly defined roles and responsibilities within that
system as well as the necessary capacity to carry out their functions.

Introduction
The Republic of Mauritius has attained substantial progress in the enhancement of human
welfare, the ultimate goal of development. Mauritius can be considered to be one among
the most advanced countries in the African continent on this score.
Governments investment in Health, Education, Womens Development and Poverty
Reduction has been instrumental in the realization of these achievements.
International Instruments ratified by Mauritius
In the 1990s Mauritius has acceded to and ratified several important international human
rights instruments, namely
(i) the Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC)
(ii) the African Charter for the Rights of the Child
(iii) the ILO Convention on the Worst Forms of Labour
(iv) the Hague Convention on Civil aspects of Child Abduction.
The Optional Protocol on the CRC on the sale of children, child prostitution and child
pornography has been signed in November 2001.
Further, the Government of Mauritius has agreed to the ratification of the Optional Protocol
to the CRC on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict in January 2009.
Child Development Unit of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and
Family Welfare
The Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare has the mandate to
look into protection and development needs of children from 0-18.
All National Policies and Programs to ensure overall development and protection of the
child from harm including violence are based on the articles of the Convention on the Rights
of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter for the Rights of the Child.
The Child Development Unit of the Ministry was set up in 1995 and is the executive arm of
the Ministry for intervening in cases of child abuse and neglect. The Unit is responsible for
the enforcement of legislation pertaining to children and for the implementation of policies
and programmes pertaining to the survival, development, protection and participation of
children.
This Unit works closely with other agencies such asthe Police Department and provides a
24-hour service through its hot lines. Free legal assistance and psychological counselling to
children at risk and in distress, as well as to their parents and families are dispensed
whenever required

Legislations
The main legislations which cater for the protection and welfare of children are:
(i) the Child Protection Act 1994 which protects the child from all forms of harm including
violence and provides for the temporary removal or alternative placement of the child if
living in dysfunctional families and families with violence.

(ii) the Institution for Welfare and Protection of Children Regulations 2000 provides for the
upkeep of norms and standards at the level of Day Care Centres and ensures that children
really have a good start in life and are made ready for school;

the Child Protection Act (Foster Care) Regulations 2002 ensure that abandoned children or
children living in dysfunctional families have the opportunity to thrive in a substitute family
environment.

(iv) the Child Protection (Amendment) Act 2005, based on the Palermo Protocol, protects
the child, including the girl child, from trafficking including abduction and abandonment.
(v) the Child Protection (Amendment) Act 2008 provides for the setting up of a
comprehensive child mentoring programme to cater for rehabilitative needs of children with
mild behavioural problems

In Mauritius, corporal punishment is prohibited in all schools as per the Education

Regulations of 1957. It is also an offence under the CPA 1994 to inflict harm on a
minor.

Child Abuse has been known to have serious physical and psychosocial consequences which can
adversely affect the health and development of an individual. Background or fundamental social
factors beyond the control of families, such as poverty, inaccessible healthcare, inadequate
nutrition, and unavailability of education can be contributing factors to child abuse.
However, picking out such offenders in a crowd is an almost impossible task because people who
abuse children may be fathers, mothers, step-parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. Of

course the majority of our society love children and want what is best for them, but nevertheless
child abuse has become a disturbing reality in our times. Is child abuse beyond our control?
Child abuse is particularly familiar among family members. In fact, children are most frequently
abused by adults close to them and who have power and authority over them. This problem is
made worse by some cultural and social practices in Mauritius which do not allow children to
talk in the presence of elders. It in turn makes it difficult for a child to tell someone they have
been abused or still is, so abuse often remains hidden within the family and the community.
In Mauritius as well as in many other countries worldwide, the abuse of children is considered a
serious offence and governments has set up numerous NGOs to combat and prevent such acts.
The Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family welfare has a unit called the
Child Development Unit (CDU), which, along with the Ombudsperson for Childrens office,
offer Protection Services to victims of violence, abuse and neglect as well as provide a hotline
service with respect to reporting of a case and counselling as appropriate amongst other benefits.
They encourage people who are aware of child abuse cases to take action and help reduce the
risk of others in the community or family.
As the years have gone by, the cases of child abuse have become more barbaric. The fact remains
that family members are sometimes aware of these abusive acts, but despite this, sadly, most opt
to remain indifferent towards the offender due to family relations or ties. Many cases are referred
to the CDU but that there may be more that go unreported and also stated that the law should be
tightened. Many culprits get away with minor penalties for atrocious crimes towards children.
DIFFERENT FORMS OF CHILD ABUSES
Child abuse occurs in different ways but is all to the detriment of the childs physical or mental
health, education, or spiritual, moral or social-emotional development. All forms of abuse and
neglect are harmful to the child. Many recognise that one definition of child abuse cannot serve
all purposes. But simply stated, it is the bad treatment of a child under the age of 18 by a parent.
There are many cases of physical abuse heard of and unheard of in our island. It is anything that
causes physical injury to a child such as burns or broken bones. News on Sunday revives the
drama that unfolded last year where a hairdresser residing in Bel-Air-Rivire-Sche was arrested
after shocking images were released of him physically abusing a child. Whatever his reason
might be, such incidents should have never been allowed to happen. He was eventually released
after providing a bail of Rs 4000 which caused heavy backlash from groups who claimed his
punishment
should
have
been
more
severe.

Sexual abuse is another serious and common plague affecting our society likewise, with many
cases generally arising within ones own household. A more recent case which shocked many
was that of the alleged sexual relations between a 15-year old girl and his uncle, both residents of
Goodlands. Although the alleged relation between the two was kept secret, it was only after a
sexual assault by a different group of people that the niece came clean about her presumed

relations with her uncle. The case mentioned can only make one wonder how many similar cases
are out there that have not been reported to the authorities.

Furthermore, emotionally abusing a child though means of belittling or calling names is also
categorised as abuse. Countless people of our society refuse to accept that even neglect is a form
of child abuse and refuse to accept that its consequences can be as damaging as a child being
physically or sexually abused. It is a form of abuse to deprive a child of basic needs such as food,
clothing, warmth and shelter, emotional and physical security and protection, medical and dental
care, cleanliness, education, and supervision.

"RIGHT 2 LIVE:" AGAINST COMMERCIAL AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Child exploitation is also said to be on the rise in Mauritius. Commercial or other exploitation of
a child refers to use of children at work or other activities for the benefit of others. This includes,
but is not limited to, child labour and child prostitution. Right 2 Live is an NGO set up
approximately five years ago. It consists of numerous social workers from different fields and the
main objective is to bring their ideas together to help solve the vast social problems our
community encounters.

A letter entitled "rape of innocence" was recently sent to the Ombudsperson for children
regarding exploitation of our young. News on Sunday spoke to Rajen Valayden, president of
Right 2 Live regarding the many issues surrounding child exploitation. "It is no secret that our
society has been suffering from this plague for many years now. Kids are having their innocence
raped

by

those

who

see

them

as

sexual

and

commercial

tools.

A case was recently brought to our notice that kids were being targeted by individuals to trade
certain religious materials. They are being left to enter unknown premises in order to maximise
profits for these individuals. We have to ask ourselves who is guaranteeing the safety of these
kids when they enter such premises. This is indeed an obvious case of child labour; hence our

letter addressed to the Ombudsperson. We want to reassure ourselves and the public that
something is or will be done to stop the propaganda of such acts," explained Rajen Valayden.

NoS recently received a call from an individual alleging that a vicious circle of sexual
exploitation of children in the surroundings of Grand-Baie exists. He claimed that kids were
being brought from deprived areas such as Saint-Croix and Roche-Bois to specific locations for
sexual exploitation by perverted individuals. Jayen Valayden stated that it is no surprise to him
that such activities were occurring on our small island.
"We are aware of the strong claims that there is a strong market for child prostitution amongst
tourists who visit Mauritius and it will be no surprise to me that such a situation is prevalent. We
have to take note that the areas mentioned above are poverty stricken which again is further
evidence that poverty is a major cause of the many social problems we are facing today. The
problem of child prostitution has existed for a long time and unless we work together and bring
radical solutions to the table, the future looks bleak. We have to start taking responsibility and
protect our children from those who prey on such vulnerability," stressed Jayen Valayden.
What Should I Do If I Know A Child has been abused?
Believe the childchildren are rarely mistaken about what happened. One of the most important
things a parent or adult can do when a child tells about sexual abuse is to treat the child in a calm
and matter-of-fact manner. Take a deep breath. Let the child know that no matter what happened
or what he/she says, you will still love him/her. If the child has been abused, take the time to
reassure the child that he/she has done nothing wrong. Let the child know that you will do
whatever you can to keep him/her safe. Let the child know you are someone he/she can safely
talk to about this issue. Listen carefully to the responses without suggesting answers. Recognise
that confusion, guilt and shame about abuse can make the conversation difficult, both for you and
for the child.
Acknowledge the childs discomfort and offer praise their courage to talk about a confusing
experience. Remember that if its difficult for you to discuss your concerns, it is likely to be
much more difficult for the child. Next, get help. getting round child sexual abuse is possible
with specialised treatment and support. There are resources throughout the country that can help
a family through this difficult situation.

Reporting the abuse to authorities is an upsetting prospect for many families. Yet, filing a report
can be a first step to accessing support services. Children who are abused and their families need
help to recover from their trauma. Anyone who is hurting a child sexually also needs help and
support to stop the behaviour.

A victim speaks
He didnt rape me...., but it affected me. I started hating men. I was happy with my
studies....with my friends, with my mom. BUT I HATE MY FATHER! My dad abused her
daughters closeness. I used to be very close to him, hed take me everywhere, and then his
fatherly caress became incest...it continued till I was at college. I was afraid. I now make him
feel he isnt worth anything.
I hated mom in the beginning because she couldnt protect me. My friends dads were their
friends, mine was my enemy, Pari (name changed), a 30-year old woman residing near Flacq,
describes her childhoods ordeal. She has been victimised by none other than her own father in
her childhood. She states that her bitter experience has traumatised her for life, to the point of
even affecting her married and professional life. Recalling the incidents makes her feel sick and
she just prays no other child goes through the same nightmare as she. At that time she was so
scared she could not tell anyone of the traumatism she was going through
NGOs and Agencies for help
There are many NGOs and government services that offer help of different kinds in the area of
child welfare:
Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare - Hotline 113
Ombudsperson for children - Hotline 177.
Ombudsperson for children: What is being done?
According to Ismail Areff Bawami, Investigator at the Ombudsperson for Childrens office, to
prevent child abuse, we all have to first realise that everyone has the right to be safe; no one
deserves to be abused. Creating safe environments where kids are safe from harm is everyones
responsibility and not just the authorities. For any prevention to be successful, we must take
into consideration the cultural environment in which it occurs.
Therefore we are working with several NGOs to gather as much resources and information as
possible. We are constantly organising training sessions (on Tuesdays and Thursdays),
community awareness campaigns, and leaflets distribution amongst others to try tackling the
issue. We have social field workers doing the best they can along with workers of the CDU and
constantly monitoring children we feel are at great risk.
If evidence of child abuse exists, there are emergency laws that are available to get the child
away from harm immediately, explained Ismail Areff Bawamia. News on Sunday did not fail to
bring up questions regarding the alleged sexual abuse of children ongoing in Grand-Baie.
According to Ismail Areff Bawamia, the Ombudspersons office has heard of such traumas
occurring around the island. People who have such information and are concerned about the
safety of a child have to alert the authorities.
Once we have sufficient evidence then we can proceed. We have full support the authorities and

can proceed to solve matters. The Child Protection Act 1994 (amended 1998) confers upon the
Permanent Secretary or any public officer designated by him to apply for an emergency
protection order in respect of a child who is at risk and gives the right to intervene in such cases.
We are working to get these laws more severe, he affirmed

Children are commonly used to symbolise innocence in literature and media today. But there is
an exception to every rule. Teens today are committing crimes ranging from grave to petty. It is
no secret that as a youngster, experiencing the thrill of committing a crime can be tempting for
many. However, what drives a child to commit hard crimes such as assault, murder, rape, sexual
offences amongst others?
Many propose rash and radical solutions, like prosecuting and punishing all children as if they
are adults. But we have to remember that children do not automatically turn into adults by virtue
of the seriousness of their crime. What drives a young person to commit crime?
Do you think pedophilia in Mauritius will or have already affected the mentality of our
youths on how they should behave in society?
9 % of the sexual abusers have been ill-treated, abandoned without any source of love, or victims
of sexual abuses themselves. Therefore it is important to talk about those crimes. A child victim
has to be helped by a qualified psychologist. Going to the police is very important too. Today
people are more educated and more conscious of the gravity of any form of sexual abuse.
What should parents do?
In every case of sexual abuse, parents have to hear, listen and believe the child. Children do not
have the psychological maturity to create such details. Children must be protected from the
perpetrator. The abuse will go on even if the perpetrator promises he will stop - he will not! They
have to be respected so they can learn to respect

Children are also less likely to get into trouble if their parent have an interest in their school life,
good relationships with teachers and can ensure that they go to school as often as possible. They
are also less likely to offend if their parents can help them to become involved in activities or
interests in their local community. This can include sports clubs, etc. There is also the important
aspect of providing them with a sense of security outside and also inside their homes

References

http://www.defimedia.info/news-sunday/society/item/9111-child-abuse%E2%80%93-illtreatment-of-children-withi-nour-society.html#

http://www.defimedia.info/news-sunday/society/item/44342-what-drives-youngchildren-to-commit-crimes.html
http://oco.gov.mu/English/Documents/report2011/chapter3.pdf
http://safire-ngo.org/assets/pdf/thematic/Report_on_Street_Children.pdf
Report of a rapid assessment and analysis of vulnerablities facing orphans and
other vulnerable children and youth (ovcy), and the quality of ovcy projects and
programmes in sadc---sadcsecretariat,2008

UNICEF Child Protection Strategy Annual session 2008 3-5 June 2008

Mauritius national progress report of the special session of the general assembly on children
a world fit for children ministry of womens rights,child development, family welfareand
consumer protection December 2006
Ombudsperson for Children- Annual Report September 2011 -2012

Ombudsperson for Children