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Mauritius is the latest nation to decriminalise same-sex relations in a divided continent

Mauritius is the latest nation to decriminalise same-sex relations in a divided continent

THE Mauritius Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a law that criminalises consensual same-sex acts between adult men. The decision boosts the trend in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region towards decriminalisation. Now, a slight majority – nine out of 16 member states – do not prohibit gay and lesbian sexual relations. I have researched and taught human rights law in Africa, including the rights of sexual minorities, for over three decades, and closely follow the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. FRANS VILJOEN, Director and Professor of International Human Rights Law, Centre for Human Rights,…
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Mauritius is the latest nation to decriminalise same-sex relations in a divided continent

Mauritius is the latest nation to decriminalise same-sex relations in a divided continent

THE Mauritius Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a law that criminalises consensual same-sex acts between adult men. The decision boosts the trend in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region towards decriminalisation. Now, a slight majority – nine out of 16 member states – do not prohibit gay and lesbian sexual relations. I have researched and taught human rights law in Africa, including the rights of sexual minorities, for over three decades, and closely follow the work of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. FRANS VILJOEN, Director and Professor of International Human Rights Law, Centre for Human Rights,…
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The true taste of Chamarel: Colours, flavours, music and history

The true taste of Chamarel: Colours, flavours, music and history

JACQUES ACHILLES FOR BIRD STORY AGENCY WHEN we hear Mauritius, we imagine clear warm coloured blue turquoise waters and endless white beaches—a true picture, of course, but an incomplete one. The country has much more to offer. The true Mauritian experience possibly lies on the road to Chamarel. Located halfway between the upper lands and the coastal region and surrounded by rivers, mountains, forests, sugar cane and pineapple fields is Chamarel- a village in the southwestern part of Mauritius. Unlike many Mauritian villages, which sacrificed their cultures and structures at the altar of 'responding to tourists' needs,' Chamarel refused to…
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As cyclone nears, Mauritius and Madagascar brace for floods, storm surge

As cyclone nears, Mauritius and Madagascar brace for floods, storm surge

MAURITIUS grounded flights and shut its stock exchange as tropical cyclone Freddy approached the island in the Indian Ocean, while emergency teams braced for heavy rains, floods and landslides in four regions on Madagascar. The cyclone, packing wind gusts of up to 120 km per hour (75 miles per hour), posed a direct threat to Mauritius, its weather service said. "As Freddy approaches ... (a) storm surge is likely to cause coastal inundation in risk areas. It is, therefore, strictly advised" not to go to sea, the service's bulletin said. The cyclone could pass as close as 120 km (75…
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Small nations top Africa in global economic freedom ranking

Small nations top Africa in global economic freedom ranking

CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD Small African countries are growing faster than their larger peers when it comes to being more economically free, a new report shows. Economic Freedom of the World: 2021, a report published by Free Market Foundation, a think tank, in conjunction with Canada’s Fraser Institute, lists the continent’s small nations as being amongst the world’s top countries when it comes to according their citizenry higher levels of personal choices, greater access to markets and clearly defined and enforced property rights. Mauritius (11), Seychelles (43) and Botswana (45) are the top African countries in the report, offering the most…
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Happiest countries in Africa

Happiest countries in Africa

BIRD NEWSROOM MAURITIUS, Nigeria and Ghana are the happiest nations in Africa, with studies indicating young Africans are the most optimistic about the continent’s future prospects. Those polled in the Africa Youth Survey exuded confidence the continent is headed for an era of economic transformation, energised by rapid technological advances and entrepreneurship. About three-quarters (80 per cent) of the youth studied believe the ongoing political and economic policy shifts in Africa would change the fortunes of the continent and its inhabitants. Despite facing serious financial adversity more Africans are happier than initially documented. According to a recent World Happiness Report,…
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Mauritius shuts down after more COVID-19 cases

Mauritius shuts down after more COVID-19 cases

MAURITIUS has gone into lockdown and suspended flights in and out of the island for two weeks following the discovery of 15 more cases of COVID-19, the Mauritius state tourism agency has announced. The Indian Ocean island of 1.4 million people has had 641 confirmed coronavirus cases with 10 deaths, according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) data. All residents and visitors have been asked to stay at home or in their hotels until March 25, the agency said in a statement. "We have decided to implement the nationwide lockdown to make sure that there is no risk of…
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Mauritius shipping disaster caused by lack of attention to safety – owner

Mauritius shipping disaster caused by lack of attention to safety – owner

JAPAN'S Nagashiki Shipping said on Friday the grounding of one of its large bulk carriers that caused an ecological disaster in Mauritius was due to a lack of safety awareness and a failure to follow rules as it pledged better training and oversight. The findings were assumptions based on interviews with crew members, the company said. A bulk carrier owned by Nagashiki and chartered by Mitsui OSK ran aground on a reef in Mauritius in July and began leaking oil, causing an ecological disaster in the pristine seas around the Indian Ocean island. Four people died when a tug sank…
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Mauritius must protect vulnerable coastal communities from the effects of the oil spill

Mauritius must protect vulnerable coastal communities from the effects of the oil spill

ROSABELLA BOSWELL, Professor of Ocean Cultures and Heritage, Nelson Mandela University ON 25 July 2020, the Japanese ship, MV Wakashio, ran aground the coral reef off the eastern coast of Mauritius. The vessel discharged more than 1,000 tonnes of oil into the island’s pristine lagoon including its Blue Bay Marine reserve. The situation is critical because Mauritius is a biodiversity hotspot. But beyond the environmental consequences, there’s the human impact. Oil spills have major social and health implications. People exposed can suffer from liver damage, skin and lung disorders, increased cancer risk, reproductive damage and post traumatic stress. Responding to…
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Mauritius oil spill: how coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass could be affected

Mauritius oil spill: how coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass could be affected

SIVAJYODEE SANNASSY PILLY, PhD Candidate in Marine Ecology, Bangor University JOHN TURNER, Professor of Marine Biology and Head of School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University RONAN ROCHE, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Bangor University SOMETIMES bad things happen in the worst possible places – like the MV Wakashio running aground on shallow reefs off the south-east coast of Mauritius on July 25. The wreck of the bulk carrier ship began leaking oil in front of a nature reserve island (Ile aux Aigrettes), a couple of kilometres from a marine park (Blue Bay), and close to an internationally important wetland area…
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