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Mauritius gender data for 2023, released on Monday by the Mauritian Statistics Bureau, still paints a bleak picture of gender equality. Despite progress in recognizing the rights of Mauritians at different levels, Mauritians still face major challenges. The violence they suffer increases year by year. Although women tend to have higher levels of education than men, they still find it difficult to gain a foothold in their professional fields. In addition, they often face serious diseases.
One of the most common problems is domestic violence. The number of reported cases has increased alarmingly, from 4,420 in 2022 to 5,729 in 2023. Verbal abuse and physical violence are the most commonly reported types. “Sadly, one in three women in Mauritius is a victim of violence. This reality is even more distressing as cases of domestic violence continue to rise. Despite the efforts of the Ministry of Gender Equality, especially with the Lespwar app, the key question remains. How can an abused person use their mobile phone to seek help in these critical moments?supports Anushka Virahsawmy, Director of Gender Link. She believes that domestic violence should not continue to be a taboo subject in Mauritius as this perception creates a significant barrier for victims who wish to report abuse. ‘Stigma makes reporting difficult’she explained.
She added that family pressure was also a factor preventing women from reporting. “This is becoming problematic. If there are children, women will not denounce it but will rather stay with the offender. This is not good for the children.” Anushka Virahsawmy believes that education plays a vital role in combating domestic violence. She also believes that protection orders, while meant to protect women, are not always effective. “While a protection order is an important measure, it is just a dead letter if the parties involved do not adhere to the required distance.” The director of Gender Link noted that in some cases women continue to communicate with their attackers, which can undermine the attacker’s effectiveness. Protection order.
In addition to domestic violence, women continue to be overrepresented among victims of sexual violence and exploitation. In 2023, approximately 91.7% of victims were female. Sexual abuse also affects young girls, with a significant increase in cases reported to UN Women. Child Development Departmentfrom 5,448 in 2022 to 5,729 in 2023. In these cases, girls accounted for about 55.0% of the victims.
For Anushka Virahsawmy, it is very important to educate boys and girls about the wrongdoings that are done without their knowledge. She believes that cases must be taken seriously and not just the honor of the family. As of December 2023, there are 9,213 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country. Of these, 28.6% are women. Anushka Virahsawmy regrets that people no longer talk about HIV/AIDS and just treat it as a simple flu.
They become mothers at a later age
Women continue to postpone the age at which they choose to become mothers. Since 2003, the rate has fallen from 1.9 to 1.4 in 2023. Today, the highest fertility rate is in the 30 to 34 age group, with 80 babies born per 1,000 women. This trend is largely attributed to women marrying at an older age. At the same time, the use of contraceptive methods in Mauritius continues to increase, with 56,332 women registered as users in 2023, compared to 56,040 the previous year.
Divorce rates rise between five and ten years of marriage
As the marriage rate continues to decline, the divorce rate continues to rise. By 2023, the number of divorces per thousand people will increase from 2.0 in 2003 to 4.3. Statistical analysis shows that couples are particularly likely to divorce within 5 to 10 years of marriage.
Diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer cause death
Heart disease and diabetes were the leading causes of death for both women and men in 2022. However, there were significant differences between the sexes. Diabetes and heart disease accounted for 22.8% and 20.6% of deaths in women, respectively, compared to 21.0% and 21.2% in men. Diseases specific to women, such as breast and uterine cancer, accounted for a large proportion of deaths in women.
Low female entrepreneurship rate
The professional world reveals significant differences between men and women, especially in the field of entrepreneurship. In 2023, 85.1% of working women hold employee positions, compared to only 73.4% of men. Only 11.4% of working women are employers or self-employed, compared to 25.2% of men. These figures also highlight the persistent inequality in the representation of women in government decision-making positions. With only 17.4% of ministers being women, they remain severely underrepresented in positions of political power in 2023.
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