Mauritius Parliament to Address Child Protection Concerns

The protection of children will be at the forefront of a Private Notice Question (PNQ) by leader of the opposition, Chetan Baboolall, in the Mauritian parliament on November 10. The PNQ, addressed to interim Prime Minister and Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Arianne Navarre-Marie, will focus on five key areas concerning child welfare. These areas include child deaths due to violence, placement in care centers, judicial proceedings, school expulsions, and drug-related arrests.

Chetan Baboolall's PNQ will first seek to determine the number of children who have died in Mauritius and Rodrigues since January 2025 due to domestic violence or other acts of violence. Additionally, he will request information on the number of children currently in care centers and the reasons for their admission. This move aims to shed light on the current state of child protection in Mauritius and to hold the government accountable for its actions in this regard.

The PNQ will also delve into judicial proceedings involving children. Chetan Baboolall will ask for the number of children who have faced prosecution in the Children's Court since 2024 and the outcomes of these cases. This information is crucial in understanding how the justice system handles cases involving children and whether adequate measures are being taken to protect and support them.

School expulsions will be another topic of discussion in the PNQ. The leader of the opposition will seek information on the number of children expelled from schools over the past two years and the reasons behind these expulsions. This data will help assess whether schools are providing a safe and supportive environment for students and whether disciplinary measures are being implemented fairly.

Furthermore, Chetan Baboolall will inquire about drug-related arrests of children over the past two years, including the locations where these incidents occurred. This information will provide insight into the prevalence of drug use among children in Mauritius and whether targeted interventions are needed to address this issue.

The PNQ by Chetan Baboolall highlights the concerns of the opposition regarding child protection in Mauritius. By raising these questions, he aims to bring attention to the challenges faced by children in the country and to push for more effective measures to ensure their safety and well-being. The government's response to these questions will be crucial in determining its commitment to addressing these issues.

The Mauritian parliament's discussion of this PNQ will be an important step in addressing the welfare of children in the country. It is hoped that the government's response will provide clear and actionable steps to improve child protection and support systems in Mauritius. The effectiveness of these measures will be closely watched by various stakeholders, including child rights advocates and the general public.

Key points

• The PNQ will cover five main areas: child deaths due to violence, placement in care centers, judicial proceedings, school expulsions, and drug-related arrests.