The government of Mauritius was examined by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in February 2013. On 27 February 2013, the Committee issued its Concluding Observations (CERD/C/MUS/CO/15-19):
- Concerns and recommendations
Identity and ethnic relations
- 16. The Committee is disturbed by the existence of hierarchy along skin colour, ancestry, caste and racial lines in the State party’s society, whereby groups are perceived as, or feel, superior or inferior to others. The Committee also regrets that only a few of the recommendations of the Truth and Justice Commission are being implemented (arts. 4 and 7).
The Committee urges the State party to condemn and take action to eliminate ideas of racial or ethnic superiority by taking measures such as campaign programmes to raise awareness of equality of all and to eliminate negative prejudices regarding certain groups. The Committee also urges the State party to prioritize the implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Justice Commission, especially those relating to creating a “less racist and elitist society,” including through urgent allocation of resources for this purpose.
The government of Mauritius was examined by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in August 1996. On 21 August 1996, the Committee issued its Concluding Observations (CERD/C/304/Add.19):
- Positive aspects
- 10. With regard to article 2 of the Convention, the adoption in July 1991 of section 282 of the Criminal Code, which makes it an offence to publish or distribute any threatening, abusive or insulting writings, to use in public any threatening, abusive or insulting gestures or to broadcast threatening, abusive or insulting matter, with intent to stir up contempt or hatred against any part of the population distinguished by race, caste, place of birth, colour or creed, is noted with appreciation.