The Family Welfare and Protection Unit (FWPU) implements policies and programmes in favour of families and addresses the problem of Gender-Based Violence. Domestic Violence is an umbrella term that encompasses both Intimate Partner Violence and Family Violence. - Intimate Partner Violence is a pattern of abusive behaviours used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner. This includes people with any current or former intimate relationship, for example dating, previously dating, on again/off again, married, divorced, living together or apart. The term “intimate partner violence" describes physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse.
Family Violence is any abusive behaviour that occurs between members of a family or household who are not involved in an intimate relationship. This includes chosen family as well as people related by blood, marriage, foster care, adoption or any other familial relationships. Family violence can include threats or the actual use of physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, psychological, or financial abuse. Gender Based Violence Gender-based violence is violence directed against a person because of their gender and is related to the unequal power relations that exist between men and women which perpetuate the subordination of women to men or vice versa
Physical Violence
Any act which causes physical harm as a result of unlawful physical force. Physical violence can take the form of, among others, serious and minor assault, deprivation of liberty and manslaughter
Sexual Violence
Any sexual act performed on an individual without their consent. Sexual violence can take the form of rape or sexual assault.
Psychological Violence
Any act which causes psychological harm to an individual. Psychological violence can take the form of, for example, coercion, defamation, verbal insult or harassment.
Emotional Violence
Emotional violence includes verbal abuse such as yelling, name-calling,
isolation, intimidation and controlling behaviour.
Economic Violence
Any act or behaviour which causes economic harm to an individual. Economic violence can take the form of, for example, property damage, restricting access to financial resources, education or the labour market, or not complying with economic responsibilities, such as alimony.
Cyberviolence
Cyberviolence is any online behavior that constitutes or leads to harm against the psychological, emotional, financial, and/or physical state of an individual or group. Although cyberviolence occurs online it can begin offline and/ or have serious offline consequences.
PROTECTION FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT (PDVA)
The Government of Mauritius passed in 1997, the Protection from Domestic Violence Act 1997 (PDVA) to protect spouses from domestic violence.
The Act provides for the issue of: • Protection Order • Occupation Order • Tenancy Order Protection Order: restraining the abuser from further acts of violence and ordering him to be of good conduct; the Order can last for a period not exceeding 2 years. Occupation Order: granting exclusive rights to the victim to live in the residence which may belong to the victim, the abuser or both. Tenancy Order: giving the victim exclusive right to occupy a rented house and the spouse who rented the house would continue to pay the rent. Subsequent amendments were brought to the PDVA in 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2016 so as to provide for protection to all persons living under the same roof, harsher penalties for non-compliance of orders of the Court and for the rehabilitation of perpetrators through counselling amongst others.
Interpretation of
Domestic Violence
According to the Protection From Domestic Violence Act, domestic violence includes any of the following acts committed by a person against his spouse, a child of his spouse or another person living under the same roof: - (a)willfully causing or attempting to cause physical injury;
- (b)willfully or knowingly placing or attempting to place the spouse or the other person in fear of physical injury to himself or to one of his children;
- (c)intimidation, harassment, ill-treatment, brutality or cruelty;
- (d)compelling the spouse or the other person by force or threat to engage in any conduct or act, sexual or otherwise, from which the spouse or the other person has the right to abstain;
- (e)confining or detaining the spouse or the other person, against his will;
- (f)harming a child of the spouse;
- (g)causing or attempting to cause damage to the spouse's or the other person's
- (h)threatening to commit any act mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (g);
Strategies to address Gender Based Violence The FWPU adopts well-defined strategies to address Gender Based Violence and they are: - Intervention
- Prevention
- Rehabilitation; and
- Re-integration.
- Intervention and Services
The Family Welfare and Protection Unit (FWPU) offers its services through eight Family Support Services around the island. ( high priority)
Services offered to the victim by the ministry: - (a)Legal and psychological advice to support women victims of domestic violence and their children;
- (b)Assistance to victims of domestic violence with regards to their application for a Protection (Order, Occupation Order and Tenancy Order under Protection from Domestic Violence Act (PDVA);
- (c)Provision of psycho-social support as a follow-up following provision of Court Orders under the PDVA;
- (d)Counselling services to adult perpetrators; and
- (e)Referral to other institutions as appropriate, amongst others.
********************** LOCATION OF FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES (FSS) | Family Support Services | ADDRESS
| Family Counselling | Domestic Violence | Port-Louis FSS | 2nd Floor, SILWF Building, Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis | 213-0737 | 213-0736 213-6945 | Rose-Hill FSS | 9th Floor, NPF Building Rose Hill | 460-5911 | 460-5910 | Abercrombie FSS | New Divisional Headquarters, Route Des Pamplemousses | 216-0475 | 217-3379 | Bambous FSS | Royal Road,
Bambous | 452- 5752 | 452-1200 | Phoenix FSS | National Women Development Centre, Phoenix | 697-9940 | 698-3609 | Souillac FSS | Morc. VRS, Royal Road, Souillac | 625 -1242 | 625-0089 | Goodlands FSS | 2nd Floor, NPF Building Goodlands | 283-7240 | 283-3000 | Flacq FSS | Central Flacq (Near Auguste Volaire Stadium) | 420-1605 / 413-2252
| 413-2322
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HOTLINES
- Hotline 139 is operational on a 24/7 basis and is free of charge for reporting of domestic violence cases.
- Hotline 119 also operational on 24/7 is to cater for family related problems.
PREVENTION
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns are conducted to sensitise the public at large on issues pertaining to gender-based violence and the welfare of families. Over the years, this Ministry has ramped up its efforts to address the issue of gender-based violence through projects and programmes to promote family welfare.
LESPWAR
On 25 November 2020s, the gender-based violence mobile application (app) known as “Lespwar" as a rapid response system to victims of gender-based violence was launched. The app is easily downloadable and accessible to all age groups of women and men victims/survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) to access help, information on GBV and receive requisite support there-on.
PROGRAMMES
a. Men as Caring Partners (MACP) To address the problem of domestic violence and promote greater involvement of men in family responsibilities. b. Pre-Marital Counselling Programme Pre-Marital Counselling is an opportunity for engaged couples and future married couples to learn about each other and oneself in depth while paving the way for an enduring, harmonious, successful satisfying and happy marriage. c. Marriage Enrichment Programme The Marriage Enrichment Programme helps couples to strengthen their relationship and be better prepared to face the challenges of married life and develop the ability to resolve conflicts. d. Inter –Generation Relationship Programme (IGR) The Inter-Generation Relationship Programme helps the three generations on the importance of inter-generation relationships. It aims at strengthening ties within the family and promote family values among the three generations that is youths/parents and grandparents. e. Inter Faith Forum ( modified content medium priority as mobilization is made by the members of religious leaders) Survivors of domestic violence often turn to religious leaders for spiritual guidance and support. Religious Leaders play an essential role in the response to and elimination of domestic violence, as they carry the responsibility to protect and nurture the spiritual wellbeing of the community as a whole and its individual members. In this respect, this Ministry is collaborating with the Council of Religions for positive social change through the Interfaith Forum. The objectives of the Interfaith Forum are as follows: a) Raise awareness of religious leaders about GBV and the importance on reinforcing family ties and values; b) Strengthen the capacity of religious communities and networks to raise awareness on GBV and promote family well-being; and c) Equip religious communities with tools to deepen their awareness and understanding of GBV and family wellbeing.
Working session and sensitisation on the impact of climate change on families The Ministry is organizing decentralized awareness campaigns for the general public and workshops for community leaders in order to create awareness on the impact of climate change on families and the role of families in climate actions. For this initiative, this Ministry partner with Ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity.
CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES Symposium : Curbing the Social Scourge of Gender-Based Violence from a Spiritual Lens: A Psychosocial Model for Counselling GBV Victims
Workshop on the Development of an Executive Package for
handling cases of GBV and referral
pathways in collaboration with UNFPA(5 & 6 Dec 2023)
Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument of the European Commission (TAEIX) Workshop on promoting judicial response in dealing with domestic violence at District Court (2-4 April 2024)
Capacity Building
Programme of Police Officers on effective response to victims of gender-based
violence
Workshop on Medical Aspects of
GBV ( 29 July 2024 -02 August 2024 )
Rehabilitation
Shelters
The Ministry provides psychosocial services through psychologist and Family Counselling Officers and Legal Resource Persons.
Re-integration
Economic empowerment
programme of survivors of domestic violence
The FWPU launched the economic empowerment programme since 2021 where victims of gender-based violence are empowered so that they can join an institution for gainful employment, greater financial stability and independence. To that effect, the Ministry sought the assistance of the MITD to conduct short courses in the fields of hairdressing, small scale gardening, housekeeping and beauty care.
Harmonisation and Data collection
Gender Based Violence Observatory A memorandum of understanding was signed with the MRIC for the running and operationalisation of Observatory on Gender Based Violence. The observatory launched its first Bulletin, a website and a series of clips on domestic violence in the context of the International Day for the elimination of the Violence Against Women 2023.GBVO : https://gbvo.mric.mu/
Special Events
Celebrated By The Family Welfare And Protection Unit International Day of Families Following the proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution in 1993, the 15th of May is observed as the International Day of Families. This day highlights the importance of families as fundamental units of society. It provides an opportunity for government, organisations and individuals to disseminate knowledge on the strengths and needs of families.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) By resolution 54/134 of 17 December 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and invited governments, international organisations and NGOs to organise activities designed to raise public awareness of the problem on that day.
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