Mauritius to Enact Legislation to Combat Human Trafficking, Child Prostitution

The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr Navin Chandra Ramgoolam on Friday informed Parliament in the Mauritian capital Port Louis that a “Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill” to legislate against child prostitution and human trafficking has been drafted and that it will soon be brought to parliament for enactment.

The Prime Minister indicated that the ministry of Foreign Affairs requested for help from the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in February 2008. Following which he said a senior legal adviser of that office visited Mauritius in June where he held working sessions with all stakeholders including officials of the State Law Office and with those of the ministry of Women and Children’s Rights.

Ramgoolam said that the bill aims to criminalize trafficking in persons, prevent potential victims from falling prey to traffickers, detect, prosecute and punish all those involved in these activities, raise awareness and promote collaboration among law enforcement agencies.

He pointed out that the government had continually taken measures to combat trafficking and that the ministry of Tourism has just set up a multi-stakeholders committee to address the issue of child prostitution and the finalizing of the publication of a brochure to sensitize all travel agencies, especially those which deal with tourists.

The brochure, the Prime Minister observed, will be distributed at the airport and the seaport to all arriving passengers and will give details of the penalties that pedophiles will incur if they indulge in child prostitution.

Source African Press Agency

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