The four Technical Working Groups, set up under the National Steering Committee on Gender Based Violence (GBV) to ensure the successful implementation of the National Strategy on the Elimination of GBV and its accompanying Action Plan, met today at a one-day Consultative Workshop at La Cannelle, Domaine Les Pailles. The aim was to review progress and plan activities with the start of the financial year.
The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare. During the workshop, participants from several Ministries and Public Departments as well as from the United Nations Development Programme were invited to finalise a list of activities that could be held within the financial year, together with the relevant time frame and budget.
It is recalled that following the launching of the National Strategy Document in November 2020, which provides the new strategic direction to eliminate GBV in Mauritius, a three-tiered mechanism was established. It comprises namely, the High-Level Committee, under the chairpersonship of the Prime Minister; the National Steering Committee; and four Technical Working Groups aligned to the four sub-strategies. These sub-strategies pertain to Social norms, Survivor focused service delivery, Discriminatory laws and practices, and Monitoring and evaluation.
At the opening of the workshop, the Acting Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mr Koosiram Conhye, stressed the prominence of the GBV issue. He underlined the importance of reporting on steps taken, constraints encountered, and issues to be addressed with a view to apply the Strategy and the Action Plan in a sustained and holistic manner.
According to Mr Conhye, the High-Level Committee, under the chairpersonship of the Prime Minister, will convene next month to take stock of these reports so as to be more effective in achieving the overall goal of the elimination of GBV.
