The campaign for marriage equality in Mauritius is gaining momentum, with local activists receiving international support. In October 2023, the Supreme Court of Mauritius ruled that the country's 185-year-old ban on same-sex intimacy was discriminatory, un-African, and unconstitutional. This ruling marked a significant breakthrough for the LGBTQ+ community in the Indian Ocean island nation. Until then, LGBTIQ+ Mauritians faced up to five years in prison for the "crime of sodomy".
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has further bolstered the campaign. In July, the NHRC concluded in a position paper that Mauritian law contains no explicit prohibition on marriage between people of the same sex. The commission found that the civil registry's refusal to marry same-sex couples could constitute discrimination based on sexual orientation. The NHRC recommended an end to this exclusion, following complaints from two same-sex couples who experienced discrimination.
The human rights development has paved the way for a major national campaign advocating for civil marriage equality. In May 2026, OUT Moris, a leading Mauritian LGBTQ+ human rights organisation, launched the "mariage civil pour tous" initiative. The campaign focuses specifically on civil rather than religious marriage. As part of the campaign, OUT Moris is running an online petition calling for the legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
The UK-based Peter Tatchell Foundation (PTF) has added its international support to the campaign. Pliny Soocoormanee, Executive Officer of the PTF and a Mauritian national, emphasized that the campaign seeks equal rights, not special rights. Soocoormanee, who entered into a civil union with his partner in the United Kingdom, highlighted the personal significance of the issue. He stressed that the campaign does not seek to impose same-sex marriage on religious institutions.
Soocoormanee called on the Mauritian Government to engage seriously with OUT Moris and other groups, including Young Queer Alliance and Collectif Arc-en-Ciel. He urged the government to take necessary steps towards equal marriage rights for all Mauritians. OUT Moris welcomed the expression of solidarity from the PTF, saying that love and equality know no borders.
Marriage equality remains rare in Africa, with South Africa being the only country to have legalised same-sex marriage twenty years ago. However, a couple in Botswana is currently challenging the constitutionality of that country's Marriage Act. They argue that it discriminates against them by failing to recognise civil marriages between same-sex couples.
The campaign for marriage equality in Mauritius has made significant progress, with international support and a clear roadmap for change. As the movement continues to gain momentum, it is likely to have far-reaching implications for the LGBTQ+ community in Mauritius and beyond. The Mauritian Government's response to the campaign will be crucial in determining the future of marriage equality in the country.
Key points
- The National Human Rights Commission has recommended an end to the exclusion of same-sex couples from civil marriage.
- The Peter Tatchell Foundation has added its international support to the campaign for marriage equality in Mauritius.
- South Africa remains the only country in Africa to have legalised same-sex marriage.
