The Committee welcomes the legislative, institutional and policy measures taken to enhance the level of protection of economic, social and cultural rights in the State party, many of which are reflected in the present concluding observations.
These concluding observations also set out a series of subjects for concern and recommendations. In paragraph 53, the Committee raise their concerns that drug related laws and policies are repressive, which has led to half of the prison population being drug offenders. They are also concerned about the level of HIV and hepatitis C infections amongst the population of people who use drugs and the limited access to health-care, as well as the limited availability of harm reduction programmes in general but particularly for those under the age of 18. In paragraph 54, the Committee recommends that the State party review its legislation and policies relating to drug use, using an approach that prioritises the right to health of people who use drugs. They also recommend that the State party develops a policy which addresses the health needs of people who use drugs and continue to expand harm reduction programmes. Finally they recommend a review of the Certificate of Character Act which is discriminatory and needs to be brought in to line with the Equal Opportunities Act.
Citation: UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 'the Concluding Observations of the Fifth Periodical Report on Mauritius', (2019), E/C.12/MUS/CO/5