Additional information about gender quotas

The adoption of the 2011 Local Government Act marks a positive development for the promotion of gender equality in Mauritius. In line with the constitutional provisions for non-discrimination on grounds of sex, the provisions of the 2011 Local Government Act are formulated in a gender-neutral manner.

The legislated candidate quota provisions of the new Act were implemented for the first time at the December 2012 local government elections, resulting in a significant increase of the representation of women in village councils from 5.8 per cent to 25.5 per cent and from 12.5 per cent to 35.5 per cent in municipal councils.