The Impact on Reporting Gender Based Violence CasesExpected Impact 7

as compared to male counterparts in the telecommuting job. The inability to carry out a bigger workload may impact on women’s career progression and influence their decision to come out from the unpaid work sector into the paid economy, resulting in more pronounced gender pay gaps.

Expected Impact

A shift in gender power dynamics at the

household level: gender inequalities will be more entrenched or notice a shift towards more gender equal dynamics

Mitigation Strategies

Instituting gender sensitive policies, such as childcare schemes, telecommuting, flexi-hours, for women’s equitable participation in the workplace

Sustaining sensitisation campaigns at all levels of society on gender equality

Targeting men and young boys as champions of gender equality

EXPECTED IMPACT 7:

The Impact on Reporting Gender Based Violence Cases

There is limited up-to-date data on the prevalence of Gender Based Violence in Mauritius 39 . As of 2014, it is reported that 24% of women had experienced some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime including partner and non-partner violence 40 . In 2019, 88% of reported cases of GBV (sexual offences, rape, attempt upon chastity, sodomy, sexual harassment and child trafficking) were perpetrated against women 41 . Mauritius presently has no other qualitative gender-based violence indicators and focuses on figures related to domestic violence.

At present there are two distinct referral pathways for reporting of domestic violence cases, namely through the Police and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare. At the level of the community, reporting is channeled through the Ministry

39 Data on Domestic Violence is more readily available 40 Gender Links, 2012, War at Home, Available Online at https://genderlinks.org.za/programme-web-menu/publications/ warhome-mauritius-country-report-2012-11-16/, Last Accessed 18 April 2020. 41 Meyer J, February 2020, High Level Committee on GBV Presentation, UNDP Mauritius Report

of Gender Equality and Family Welfare and its 6 Family Support Bureaux across the island and a hotline on Domestic Violence has been set up. Reporting may also be done through the Citizen Support Unit at the level of the Citizens Advice Bureaus. At the level of the Police, reporting is done in all Police Stations and Police Family Protection Unit. A Domestic Violence Information System is also operational wherein cases are recorded on an online system by the Ministry of Gender Equality.

As at January 2019, the total number of cases of domestic violence stood at 6,329. During the COVID-19 lock-down period, it is noted that there were 2 main reporting pathways namely at the Ministry of Gender Equality (Hotlines) and at the Police Family Protection Unit. At the level of the Police 42 , the number of reported cases of domestic violence saw a decrease of 14% from February to mid March 2020 which may be linked to the confinement measures indicating that women with violent partners may have been isolated from the people and resources that can help them. The number of Interim Protection Orders decreased by around 4% for the month of March 2020 as the lockdown started, as compared to the full month of February 2020. The number of Protection Orders issued decreased by 18%. The nature of offences of domestic violence that remained higher in March 2020 as compared to January and February 2020 remained Breaches of the Protection from Domestic Violence Act including simple assault, assault, threat, insult and ill-treatment. The Police reported some 1,100 calls for counselling and support, while the hotline of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare registered violence. During the progression of the pandemic, Statistics Mauritius revealed that the cases of domestic violence, as reported by female survivors, had escalated from the period 20 March to 30 May 2020 as compared to the same time in 2018 and 2019, with 481 reported cases relating to physical assault, verbal abuse and other types of gender based violence”. 111 female survivors left the conjugal roof during lockdown. COVID-19 thus resulted in an escalation of Domestic Violence, as the risk factors and triggers got exacerbated. As the same time, the number of thefts and burglaries increased.

“Social distancing” is one of the recommended strategies to contain the virus. Economic and social stress coupled with restricted movement and social isolation measures will likely increase the risk of Gender Based Violence (GBV), as it may be used as a mechanism to isolate the victim from her family, friends, social networks and service providers, as a part of emotional/psychological violence and controlling behavior. Concurrently, restricted movement during strict lockdown may also prevent women from physically reporting cases of domestic violence, or report violence via hotlines or report violence via hotlines. Access to Shelters may also

42 Police Family Protection Unit, April 2020, Return of Domestic Violence Cases Reported at PFPU from January to March 2020.

Statistics Mauritius, May 2020, Covid-19 Crime, Available Online at Junehttp://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/Documents/

Covid19/Covid_doc_Crime.pdf, Last Accessed 3 July 2020

have proved difficult as they are not properly equipped with quarantine facilities, or defined as Essential Services.

A quick link may be made to the way in which confinement measures with a perpetrator increases the risk of domestic violence incidence, as well as the nature and complexity of the violence. Additionally, social services responses have been compromised in providing meaningful and relevant support to victims

of domestic violence in the light of social distancing, restricted moment whilst perpetrators are not held accountable for their acts.

This leads to a reflection on rethink the way in which reporting of cases may be carried out through other pathways such as leveraging technologies to document and report cases of gender-based violence. The above analysis also highlights the need for strengthening and ensuring access of GBV victims/survivors to 24x7 information on COVID-19 prevention and GBV Response through making available “Voice, SMS, Chat and Counselling Services” for effective reporting, prevention and referrals. Establish and strengthen “multi-sectoral responses” for providing quality information and access to the services by various stakeholders, including

Expected Impact

Decision Making that is underpinned by limited evidence on the status of GBV in Mauritius

Reporting of GBV Cases will be hindered with strict lockdown measures Mitigation Strategies

Carrying out a baseline study on the extent and prevalence of GBV in Mauritius

Strengthening the existing strategic direction to enhance a multistakeholder response to domestic violence and perpetrator rehabilitation

Leveraging technologies such as the setting up of a mobile application for reporting of GBV cases

Conceptualising a model shelter with a multi-functional area that may also act as a quarantine area in times of pandemics and an integrated center with a one-stop-shop concept (such as having an economic empowerment programme for victims, counselling, legal aid)

Converting Shelters as essential services for continued operation in state of emergencies.

Institutionalising a mobile response unit at the level of the Police to respond to cases of GBV at the level of the community