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ČIŽ3ŎŹP1ŲLTačåhs\“w%/"źāŁõ£(3W×/qĶĘu›¶G$°ŁÖ5³‹`¶WGņ†oŦłĢ='āŪ5¬<9Očł»ī¼]ļ‹–¤K lØęčužŲz"¼æ®C¬õ Ö“vŌ™š:"‰¹ŗ{½ķ«?LƒOĻm~_‹ģ°’Ū ‰3Tę€,O,g«9@›z÷d[÷{nšhZ”ų“Õ½aø.·õ"†€–ŚWœZŌIĀćŹ0lö#Žāüņc\ČĖ@'ņ°Ī†' ĪGaÅBn¹[k\6*¹É(üĄ¤ŻYÓN£•3 rMĶ±”LĶ¶öčq$|`²ˆ¤³—7†?¦µųt!¹Ļ󍦿üĆ=D<®C†ŚV¾cŌĒ›ŪéB÷Żö¼ø¾£%žĘ¾W™žE×jqVAĖƒRĻ˜ ¾’ƒTöŅ£ž!ædi„š¼-BN›Łf3š£·+Äē(“żÅE¾»0 o•[8āp:½6øņ,”ŒÕAļČ2ÅÅOs”hü“_:uéjõžŃz+óqŌ¾˜P-‚łNƒjģqµXŠ #Į¶UNw %Å 0:Ė^ w4)8 m:<QN˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ō{l, &bœ+Šö<k1ü 3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ  consuetudinaryChagosŻ ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_Ōą@CC&ģąŌ€¼ė¬»XXŌņ ņMAURITIUSˆŠ ° ŠĢĢŌ€X±pX»¼ė¬ŌŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€A/33/40€(1978)Š ģ< ŠĢĢó óÓ  Ó451.€€The€Committee€considered€the€initial€report€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/1/Add.21)€submitted€by€Mauritius€at€itsŠ °  Š110ņņthóó€and€111ņņthóó€meetings€on€25€and€26€October€1978€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/SR.110€and€111).Š œ ģ ŠĢ452.€€The€representative€of€that€country€reminded€the€Committee€that€the€report€had€been€introducedŠ t Ä  Šat€a€previous€session.€€He€said€that€he€had€nothing€to€add€to€that€statement€but€was€at€the€disposalŠ `°  Šof€the€Committee€to€answer€any€questions€its€members€might€wish€to€put€to€him.Š Lœ  ŠĢ453.€€In€the€report,€it€had€been€stated€that€Mauritius€did€not€find€it€necessary€to€give€the€force€of€lawŠ $t  Šspecifically€to€the€International€Covenant€on€Civil€and€Political€Rights€as€the€substance€of€theŠ `  ŠCovenant€was€already€contained€either€in€the€Constitution€or€in€a€number€of€specific€enactments,€butŠ üL Špossible€differences€and€inconsistencies€having€been€noted,€some€members€raised€the€followingŠ č8 Šquestions:€(a)€Was€the€text€of€the€Mauritian€Constitution€influenced€by€the€International€CovenantŠ Ō$ Šon€Civil€and€Political€Rights€or€by€the€Universal€Declaration€on€Human€Rights€or€not?€€(b)€€In€theŠ Ą Šlegislative€process,€were€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€applied€as€laid€down€in€the€Covenant€orŠ ¬ü Šwere€they€adapted€to€take€account€of,€for€example,€the€countryššs€previous€legislation€and€its€practicesŠ ˜č Šand€customs?€€(c)€Did€some€of€the€principles€laid€down€in€the€Covenant€have€constitutional€forceŠ „Ō Šwhereas€others€did€not€and€what€practical€difficulties€were€caused€by€that€difference€in€legal€force?€Š pĄ Š(d)€€Could€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€be€invoked€before€the€courts€in€order€to€settle€possibleŠ \¬ Šinconsistencies€between€the€Covenant€and€domestic€laws€and€what€procedure€was€followed€in€suchŠ H˜ Šcases?€€(e)€€Were€there€administrative€remedies€against€possible€violations€of€the€rights€andŠ 4„ Šguarantees€established€in€the€Covenant?Š  p ŠĢ454.€€Further€information€was€also€requested€concerning€the€nullity€of€unconstitutional€laws,€toŠ ųH Šwhich€reference€is€made€in€the€report.€€Did€a€mere€declaration€of€unconstitutionality€by€a€court€haveŠ ä4 Šthe€effect€of€nullifying€a€law€for€all€future€legal€purposes€or€was€a€declaration€required€for€eachŠ Š  Šspecific€case,€and€which€judicial€organs€could€decree€nullity?Š ¼!  ŠĢ455.€€Further€information€was€requested€concerning€the€suspension€of€fundamental€rights€inŠ ”#ä! Šexceptional€circumstances.€€Members€asked€which€rights€and€guarantees€were€suspended€by€articleŠ €$Š" Š18€of€the€Constitution€of€Mauritius€and€whether€that€article€was€consistent€with€article€4€of€theŠ l%¼ # ŠCovenant.Š X&Ø!$ ŠĢ456.€€With€reference€to€economic,€social,€health,€educational€and€other€measures€aimed€at€creatingŠ 0(€#& Ša€material€context€that€would€permit€actual€enjoyment€of€the€human€rights€proclaimed€in€theŠ )l$' ŠCovenant,€the€question€of€whether€the€property€system€prevailing€in€Mauritius€guaranteed€suchŠ *X%( Šenjoyment€was€raised.€€In€connection€with€the€right€to€life,€questions€were€asked€concerning€theŠ ō*D&) Šmeasures€adopted€to€reduce€infant€mortality€and€the€results€which€had€been€obtained.Š ą+0'* ŠĢ457.€€In€relation€to€article€2,€paragraphs€1€and€2,€some€members€of€the€Committee€asked€whether,Š ø-), Šin€view€of€the€fact€that€the€report€referred€to€non„discrimination€in€the€matter€of€certain€rights€only,Š ° Šthere€were€specific€legal€rules€prohibiting€discrimination€in€general€and€in€the€matter€of€rights€otherŠ œģ Šthan€those€mentioned€in€the€report,€and€what€steps€were€taken€to€ensure€practical€observance€of€theŠ ˆŲ Šprinciple.€€The€representative€of€Mauritius€was€asked€whether,€since€the€country€was€made€up€of€aŠ tÄ Šmultinational€community,€there€were€peaceful€means€of€settling€problems€that€arose€in€cases€ofŠ `° Šunlawful€discrimination€on€grounds€of€race,€such€as€bodies€or€organizations€established€for€thatŠ L œ Špurpose.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ458.€€Members€asked€questions€relating,€first,€to€the€extent€to€which€section€16€of€the€ConstitutionŠ  ` Šof€Mauritius€gave€effect€to€the€provisions€of€article€2,€paragraph€1,€and€articles€3€and€26€of€theŠ ü L  ŠCovenant,€which€were€designed€to€ensure€equality€and€non„discrimination,€and,€secondly,€to€theŠ č 8  Šextent€to€which€that€section€was€consistent€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€in€so€far€as€it€allowedŠ Ō$  Šrestrictions€on€fundamental€rights€in€normal€times.Š Ą  ŠĢ459.€€One€member€examined€constitutional€provisions€under€which€certain€persons€„€for€example,Š ˜č  Šmembers€of€the€armed€forces€and€the€police€„€were€deprived€of€protection€with€respect€to€certainŠ „Ō  Šfundamental€human€rights.€€He€then€asked€what€remedies€against€arbitrary€measures€were€availableŠ pĄ Što€those€persons€and€what€measures€of€protection€were€available€to€members€of€enemy€forces,€whoŠ \¬ Šappeared€to€be€excluded€from€any€constitutional€protection.Š H˜ ŠĢ460.€€With€regard€to€article€2,€paragraph€3€(a),€information€was€requested€concerning€the€remedyŠ  p Šprovided€for€in€article€17€of€the€Constitution€in€the€event€of€violation€of€any€of€the€fundamentalŠ  \ Šrights€and€freedoms€guaranteed€by€articles€3€to€16€of€the€Constitution.€€It€was€stated€that€theŠ ųH Šprovisions€dealing€with€that€remedy€were€difficult€to€understand€and€that€the€Chief€Justice€wasŠ ä4 Švested€with€unusual€powers€to€make€rules€regarding€the€remedy€and€to€lay€down€time€limits€withinŠ Š  Šwhich€it€must€be€exercised.€€Further€information€was€therefore€requested€on€the€application€of€theŠ ¼  Šremedy,€how€the€rules€had€been€interpreted€in€case€law€and€how€often€the€remedy€was€used€in€dailyŠ Øų Šlegal€practice.Š ”ä ŠĢ461.€€Several€members€of€the€Committee€asked€questions€concerning€the€organization€and€operationŠ l¼ Šof€the€judicial€system€and€requested€general€information€on€that€subject.€€In€particular,€furtherŠ X Ø Šinformation€was€requested€concerning€the€manner€of€appointment€of€judges,€magistrates€and€otherŠ D!” Šcourt€officials,€by€whom€they€were€appointed,€by€what€means€their€impartiality€and€theirŠ 0"€  Šindependence€of€the€executive€power€was€guaranteed€in€practice,€whether€judges€enjoyed€securityŠ #l! Šof€tenure€and€who€could€order€their€dismissal.€€Other€questions€related€to€the€social€composition€ofŠ $X" Šthe€bench,€the€requirements€to€be€met€in€order€to€be€appointed€a€judge€and€whether€women€could€beŠ ō$D # Šjudges.€€The€representative€of€Mauritius€was€also€asked€whether€there€were€special€courts€to€dealŠ ą%0!$ Šwith€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō€questions€and,€if€so,€how€they€were€structured€and€fitted€into€€the€legal€system.€Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ462.€€One€member€asked€what€criteria€governed€questions€connected€with€the€registration€of€tradeŠ ¤(ō#' Šunions€and€whether€the€need€to€register€workersšš€associations€was€merely€formal€or€involved€aŠ )ą$( Šlimitation€of€the€right€to€freedom€of€association.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ463.€€A€number€of€questions€were€also€asked,€in€connection€with€article€2,€paragraph€3€(c),Š T,¤'+ Šconcerning€redress€by€way€of€damages€for€violation€of€a€personššs€rights,€including:€Did€the€redressŠ @-(, Šcover€both€indirect€damages€and€loss€of€earnings?€€Did€all€citizens€enjoy€the€same€rights€and€wereŠ ° Šthey€on€an€equal€footing€before€the€law€in€claiming€their€rights,€even€when€the€defendant€was€theŠ œģ ŠState€or€the€authorities€of€the€country?€€Could€the€right€be€enforced,€in€the€event€of€improperŠ ˆŲ Šdetention,€for€example,€against€the€police€authorities?Š tÄ ŠĢ464.€€With€regard€to€article€3,€various€questions€were€raised€concerning€the€status€of€women€andŠ L œ Štheir€legal€equality€with€men,€particularly€with€respect€to€the€matrimonial€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€provided€for€in€theŠ 8 ˆ ŠCivil€Code€under€which€the€wife€lacked€full€capacity€and€was€dependent€on€her€husband.Š $ t ŠĢ465.€€Some€members€asked€why€there€were€two€matrimonial€Ō_ŌrgimesŌ_Ō,€whether€the€coexistence€ofŠ ü L  Šthe€Ō_ŌrgimesŌ_Ō€was€temporary€and€which€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€was€preferred.€€They€also€asked€whether€women€whoŠ č 8  Šhad€married€before€1949€„€or€who€had€opted€for€the€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€provided€for€in€the€Civil€Code€„€couldŠ Ō$  Šavail€themselves€of€the€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€established€in€the€1949€Ordinance€without€resorting€to€divorce.€Š Ą  ŠSeveral€members€requested€information€concerning€the€general€legal€status€of€women€and€theŠ ¬ü  ŠŌ_ŌconsuetudinaryŌ_Ō€factors€that€caused€them€to€choose€one€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€rather€than€another.Š ˜č  ŠĢ466.€€Doubts€were€also€expressed€concerning€the€system€established€in€the€Constitution€forŠ pĄ Šdetermining€the€nationality€of€children,€which€is€derived,€in€accordance€with€ņņŌ_ŌjusŌ_Ō€sanguinisóó,€from€theŠ \¬ Šfather.Š H˜ ŠĢ467.€€Various€questions€concerning€the€right€to€life€(article€6)€were€asked€in€connection€with€articleŠ  p Š4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.€€It€was€emphasized,€in€connection€with€constitutional€provisionsŠ  \ Šestablishing€the€cases€in€which€a€person€may€legally€be€deprived€of€his€life,€that€such€cases€must€beŠ ųH Šfully€justified€and€be€commensurate€with€the€risk€or€injury€the€deprivation€€of€life€sought€to€prevent.€Š ä4 ŠSome€members€asked€what€practical€steps€were€taken€to€apply€the€latter€principle,€whether€citizensŠ Š  Šwere€entitled€to€carry€arms€and€in€what€circumstances€they€may€use€them.Š ¼  ŠĢ468.€€The€report€indicated€that€the€death€penalty€was€in€force€in€Mauritius,€and€although€theŠ ”ä ŠCovenant€was€not€mandatory€in€that€respect,€some€members€asked€whether€the€Government€hadŠ €Š Šplanned€to€abolish€that€penalty€or€had€taken€steps€towards€that€end.€€The€question€of€the€definitionŠ l¼ Šof€š šhigh€treasonšš,€one€of€the€crimes€carrying€the€death€penalty,€was€also€raised;€was€it€confined€toŠ X Ø Šattacks€on€territorial€integrity€or€did€it€also€apply€to€espionage€and€other€crimes€committed€in€theŠ D!” Šcountry.Š 0"€  ŠĢ469.€€With€regard€to€article€7,€several€members€of€the€Committee€expressed€concern€at€the€reportššsŠ $X" Šreference€to€corporal€punishment,€which€seemed€to€be€inflicted€for€breaches€of€prison€discipline.€Š ō$D # ŠOne€member€asked€whether€it€could€be€abolished.€€Explanations€were€requested€concerning€theŠ ą%0!$ Šforms€of€corporal€punishment€and€the€frequency€of€their€administration.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ470.€€Other€members€referred€to€the€prohibition€of€the€use€of€force€against€any€individual,€includingŠ ¤(ō#' Šmedical€or€scientific€intervention.€€They€asked€whether€there€were€any€laws€governing€medical€orŠ )ą$( Šscientific€experimentation€and€whether€it€was€established€that€no€one€could€be€subjected€to€suchŠ |*Ģ%) Šexperiments€without€his€consent.Š h+ø&* ŠĢ471.€€In€connection€with€article€7,€some€questions€were€asked€concerning€the€complaints€which,Š @-(, Šaccording€to€the€report,€could€be€filed€against€the€police.€€More€information€was€requested€on€howŠ ° Šthose€complaints€were€handled.Š œģ ŠĢ472.€€On€the€subject€of€article€8€of€the€Covenant,€the€report€stated€that€section€6€of€the€MauritianŠ tÄ ŠConstitution€established€exceptions€to€the€right€not€to€be€required€to€perform€forced€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō.€€TheŠ `° Šquestion€was€asked,€were€those€exceptions€in€keeping€with€article€8€of€the€Covenant.Š L œ ŠĢ473.€€A€number€of€questions€were€asked€in€connection€with€the€part€of€the€report€dealing€with€theŠ $ t Šright€to€personal€liberty€(article€9).Š  ` ŠĢ474.€€One€point€raised€was€whether€a€detained€or€arrested€person€was€informed€of€the€reasons€for€hisŠ č 8  Šdetention€at€the€time€of€arrest€or€later,€as€there€appeared€to€be€a€discrepancy€with€the€Covenant,Š Ō$  Šwhich€stated€that€such€information€was€to€be€given€at€the€time€of€arrest,€whereas€under€MauritianŠ Ą  Šlaw,€it€was€to€be€given€š šas€soon€as€is€reasonably€practicablešš.Š ¬ü  ŠĢ475.€€Some€members€referred€to€the€time€within€which€a€detained€person€must€be€brought€to€trial.€Š „Ō  ŠThe€Government€reported€that€he€must€be€taken€š šas€soon€as€possible€before€the€courtšš€and€that€heŠ pĄ Šshould€be€released€if€he€was€not€tried€š šwithin€a€reasonable€timešš.€€Several€members€inquired€whetherŠ \¬ Šcase€law€had€established€what€constituted€š šreasonable€timešš€and€whether€there€were€any€rulesŠ H˜ Šprohibiting€extension€of€that€period.Š 4„ ŠĢ476.€€Section€5€(1)€of€the€Mauritian€Constitution€contained€a€long€list€of€cases€in€which€a€person€mayŠ  \ Šbe€deprived€of€his€liberty.€€One€member€of€the€Committee€asked€whether€all€those€restrictions€on€theŠ ųH Šright€to€liberty€were€necessary,€whether€such€enumeration€meant€that€a€watch€was€kept€on€arbitraryŠ ä4 Šdeprivation€of€liberty€or€whether,€on€the€contrary,€so€many€exceptions€might€not€imply€a€limitationŠ Š  Šof€the€right€not€to€be€arbitrarily€arrested.Š ¼  ŠĢ477.€€Another€member€of€the€Committee€referred€to€the€cases€of€preventive€detention€provided€forŠ ”ä Šin€section€5€(1)€(k)€of€the€Constitution,€which€established€special€rules€for€the€case€of€a€personŠ €Š Šarrested€on€suspicion€of€possibly€engaging€in€activities€threatening€public€order€and€safety.€€TheŠ l¼ Šrepresentative€was€asked€whether€the€fact€that€the€Commissioner€of€Police,€by€whose€order€suchŠ X Ø Šarrests€were€carried€out,€was€not€subject€to€control€by€other€authorities€did€not€prove€damaging€toŠ D!” Šthe€detained€person;€was€it€possible€to€apply€for€a€writ€of€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€in€order€to€prevent€detentionŠ 0"€  Šin€such€a€case€and,€if€so,€did€the€judge€hearing€the€application€have€to€confine€himself€to€the€formalŠ #l! Šaspects€of€the€case,€or€could€he€also€deal€with€the€substantive€aspects€as€well?Š $X" ŠĢ478.€€Some€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€there€had€been€any€actual€cases€ofŠ ą%0!$ Špersons€being€awarded€compensation€for€unlawful€arrest,€whether€„€in€addition€to€compensation€forŠ Ģ&"% Šdamages€„€provision€was€made€for€penalties€to€be€imposed€on€the€authorities€responsible€for€suchŠ ø'#& Šarrests,€and€how€the€matter€was€handled€if€the€arrested€person€had€contributed€to€his€arrest€by€hisŠ ¤(ō#' Šown€conduct.Š )ą$( ŠĢ479.€€In€connection€with€article€11,€several€members€assumed,€from€the€wording€of€the€report,€thatŠ h+ø&* Šanyone€possessing€property€who€refused€to€pay€a€debt€was€liable,€in€Mauritius,€to€imprisonment.€Š T,¤'+ ŠThat€would€be€incompatible€with€the€provisions€of€article€11€of€the€Covenant.€€More€informationŠ @-(, Šwas€requested€on€the€subject,€including€the€grounds€for€the€inclusion€of€that€provision€in€section€21Š ° Šof€the€Mauritius€Civil€Procedure€Ordinance,€how€often€it€was€applied,€the€length€of€the€sentence,€andŠ œģ Šwhat€possibilities€a€detainee€had€of€regaining€his€freedom€in€order€to€assemble€the€necessary€fundsŠ ˆŲ Što€pay€his€debt.€Š tÄ ŠĢ480.€€With€regard€to€article€12,€several€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€were€theŠ L œ Šrestrictions,€laid€down€in€section€15€(3)€of€the€Constitution,€on€the€right€to€freedom€of€movement€andŠ 8 ˆ Šfreedom€to€choose€oneššs€place€of€residence.€€Information€was€also€sought€concerning€the€proceduresŠ $ t Šgoverning€the€right€to€leave€the€country.Š  ` ŠĢ481.€€In€connection€with€the€part€of€the€report€relating€to€article€14,€paragraph€1,€members€of€theŠ č 8  ŠCommittee€said€they€would€like€to€know€what€were€the€cases€laid€down€in€section€10€(10)€of€theŠ Ō$  ŠConstitution€that€constituted€an€exception€to€the€rule€in€section€10€(9)€providing€that€all€criminal€andŠ Ą  Šcivil€proceedings€were€to€be€conducted€in€public.€€They€needed€the€information€in€order€to€determineŠ ¬ü  Šwhether€the€exceptions€coincided€with€those€provided€for€in€article€14€of€the€Covenant.€€TheŠ ˜č  Šrepresentative€of€Mauritius€was€also€asked€under€what€conditions€newspaper€reporters€wereŠ „Ō  Šaccredited€to€the€courts.Š pĄ ŠĢ482.€€Referring€to€article€14,€paragraph€2,€one€member€expressed€an€interest€in€knowing€theŠ H˜ ŠMauritian€Governmentššs€view€on€the€scope€and€consequences€of€the€principle€of€the€presumptionŠ 4„ Šof€innocence€as€laid€down€in€the€Covenant.€€He€also€asked€whether€that€principle€applied€outside€theŠ  p Šcourts,€for€example,€in€the€administrative€sphere.Š  \ ŠĢ483.€€The€right€to€legal€assistance€proclaimed€in€article€14,€paragraph€3,€gave€rise€to€a€number€ofŠ ä4 Šquestions.€€Did€everyone€have€equal€access€to€justice,€and€was€the€language€used€in€the€courtsŠ Š  Ševeryday€language€or€intelligible€only€to€lawyers?€€Were€persons€obliged€to€hire€a€lawyer€to€defendŠ ¼  Šthem?€€€Was€the€choice€of€defense€counsel€entirely€free,€or€was€it€subject€to€restrictions?€€Did€anŠ Øų Šaccused€person,€having€complied€with€the€procedure€laid€down€for€determining€whether€a€personŠ ”ä Šwas€entitled€to€free€legal€aid€and€having€been€denied€that€aid,€remain,€perhaps€unjustly,€withoutŠ €Š Šdefense?Š l¼ ŠĢ484.€€In€connection€with€article€14,€paragraph€6,€one€member€of€the€Committee€asked€whether,€inŠ D!” Šview€of€the€absence€of€legal€provision€for€compensation€of€persons€unjustly€sentenced,€any€measuresŠ 0"€  Šwere€contemplated€for€improving€that€situation.Š #l! ŠĢ485.€€Several€members€pointed€out€that,€in€examining€article€16,€the€report€dealt€with€a€matterŠ ō$D # Šdifferent€from€the€one€envisaged€in€the€Covenant.€€They€therefore€requested€some€clarification.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ486.€€Some€members€observed€that€the€concept€of€privacy€referred€to€in€article€17€of€the€CovenantŠ ø'#& Šdiffered€from€country€to€country,€and€expressed€an€interest€in€knowing€how€that€concept€was€definedŠ ¤(ō#' Šin€Mauritiusšš:€€was€it€taken€to€apply€to€the€small€family€unit€only,€or€did€it€encompass€a€wider€familyŠ )ą$( Šcommunity,€including€other€persons€associated€with€it?€€That€was€important,€for€example,€inŠ |*Ģ%) Šdetermining€who€was€affected€by€the€migration€of€given€persons.€€They€also€requested€moreŠ h+ø&* Šinformation€concerning€the€exceptions€to€the€principle€of€non„interference€in€a€personššs€private€life.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š487.€€With€reference€to€articles€18€and€19,€various€questions€were€asked€about€religious€freedom€andŠ ° Špolitical€opinions;€in€particular,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€registers€andŠ œģ Šrecords€were€kept€of€the€names€of€persons€belonging€to€political€organizations€or€parties,€whetherŠ ˆŲ Šthe€police€kept€secret€records€of€that€type,€whether€the€status€of€State€information€services€wasŠ tÄ Šlegally€regulated,€and€whether€those€services€were€supervised€by€parliamentary€commissions€orŠ `° Šcommittees.Š L œ ŠĢ488.€€On€the€subject€of€freedom€of€information,€members€wished€to€know€in€what€languages€radioŠ $ t Šand€television€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€were€broadcast,€and,€in€particular,€whether€Creole,€which€was€a€languageŠ  ` Šunderstood€by€one€and€all,€was€widely€used.€€They€also€asked€for€information€concerning€theŠ ü L  Šrestrictions€on€freedom€of€expression€referred€to€in€the€report,€pointing€out€that,€although€the€casesŠ č 8  Šmentioned€seemed€reasonable,€not€all€had€been€expressly€indicated€in€the€report,€and€it€would€beŠ Ō$  Šuseful€to€know€all€those€provided€for€by€the€law.€€Information€was€likewise€requested€on€the€scopeŠ Ą  Šof€the€restrictions,€and€whether€they€were€applied€by€means€of€pre„censorship€or€post„censorship.€Š ¬ü  ŠFurthermore,€was€the€Mauritius€Broadcasting€Corporation€a€public,€autonomous€or€ministerial€body,Š ˜č  Šand€how€was€its€impartiality€ensured?Š „Ō  ŠĢ489.€€With€reference€to€article€20,€information€was€requested€on€the€existence€of€rules€prohibitingŠ \¬ Šwar€propaganda.€€It€was€also€pointed€out€that€the€reply€in€the€report€on€that€point€did€not€coincideŠ H˜ Šwith€the€requirements€of€article€20€of€the€Covenant.Š 4„ ŠĢ490.€€In€connection€with€articles€21€and€22,€some€members€requested€information€on€the€economic,Š  \ Šsocial€and€legal€role€of€the€trade€unions,€their€role€in€production,€and€the€machinery€for€collectiveŠ ųH Šbargaining€and€the€settlement€of€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō€disputes.Š ä4 ŠĢ491.€€€In€view€of€the€reference€in€the€report€to€restrictions€on€freedom€of€assembly€and€association,Š ¼  Šseveral€members€of€the€Committee€asked€what€those€restrictions€were,€particularly€with€regard€toŠ Øų Šfreedom€to€form€trade€unions,€and€they€also€wished€to€know€the€scope€of€articles€16€and€17€of€theŠ ”ä ŠPublic€Order€Act€of€1970€prohibiting€unlawful€assemblies€and€riots.€€Some€members€soughtŠ €Š Šclarification€as€to€whether€meetings€were€prohibited€on€grounds€of€violence,€or€simply€on€accountŠ l¼ Šof€the€large€numbers€involved;€they€asked€what€penalties€were€applicable€in€the€event€of€disturbancesŠ X Ø Šand€what€procedures€were€followed€in€deciding€on€their€applications.Š D!” ŠĢ492.€€With€reference€to€the€principles€enunciated€in€article€23,€some€members€voiced€doubts€as€toŠ #l! Šthe€existence,€in€Mauritius,€of€any€real€equality€between€husband€and€wife€in€marriage,€judging€fromŠ $X" Šthe€relevant€part€of€the€report.€€In€that€connection,€they€asked€whether€the€wife,€like€the€husband€inŠ ō$D # Šsimilar€circumstances,€was€entitled€to€claim€damages€from€someone€who€had€committed€adulteryŠ ą%0!$ Šwith€her€husband.€€The€question€was€also€asked,€were€the€grounds€for€granting€divorce€the€same€forŠ Ģ&"% Šhusband€and€wife?Š ø'#& ŠĢ493.€€Another€member€wished€to€know€whether€there€were€other€forms€of€absence€of€consent€whichŠ )ą$( Šcould€give€rise€to€the€dissolution€of€a€marriage€in€addition€to€those€mentioned€in€the€report.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ494.€€Referring€to€the€part€of€the€report€dealing€with€article€24,€one€member€of€the€CommitteeŠ T,¤'+ Šrequested€information€on€the€position€of€the€children€of€parents€who€were€not€legally€married,€andŠ @-(, Štheir€rights€vis„„vis€both€parent.Š ° ŠĢ495.€€With€reference€to€the€participation€of€citizens€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairs€(article€25),€aŠ ˆŲ Šmember€of€the€Committee€asked€for€further€information€on€how€members€of€Parliament€were€electedŠ tÄ Šand€on€the€obligations€of€members€of€Parliament€towards€their€electors.Š `° ŠĢ496.€€In€connection€with€the€rights€enunciated€in€article€27,€one€member€of€the€Committee€requestedŠ 8 ˆ Šinformation€concerning€the€ethnic€composition€of€the€population€of€Mauritius.Š $ t ŠĢ497.€€The€representative€of€Mauritius€answered€some€of€the€questions€summarized€in€the€precedingŠ ü L  Šparagraphs.Š č 8  ŠĢ498.€€He€stated€that€Mauritius€had€not€so€far€found€it€necessary€to€amend€its€legislation€in€order€toŠ Ą  Šfulfil€its€obligations€under€the€Covenant.€€In€view,€however,€of€the€points€raised€by€members€of€theŠ ¬ü  ŠCommittee€regarding€certain€instances€where€the€legislation€did€not€appear€to€implement€fully€theŠ ˜č  Šprinciples€of€the€Covenant,€he€would€invite€his€Government€to€consider€those€points€and,€ifŠ „Ō  Šnecessary,€enact€new€legislation€which€would€better€fulfil€the€obligations€assumed€under€thatŠ pĄ Šinternational€instrument.Š \¬ ŠĢ499.€€Replying€to€the€questions€regarding€the€historical€reasons€for€the€fact€that€the€MauritianŠ 4„ ŠConstitution€contained€various€provisions€which€appeared€in€international€instruments,€he€explainedŠ  p Šthat,€before€its€independence,€Mauritius€had€been€a€British€colony€and€the€United€Kingdom€hadŠ  \ Šapproved€the€Universal€Declaration€of€Human€Rights€and€was€also€a€party€to€the€EuropeanŠ ųH ŠConvention€for€the€Protection€of€Human€Rights.€€When€independence€was€being€negotiated,€theŠ ä4 Špolitical€leaders€of€Mauritius,€being€aware€of€the€human€rights€established€in€those€internationalŠ Š  Šinstruments,€had€all€agreed€that€the€rights€and€guarantees€set€forth€in€those€texts€should€be€embodiedŠ ¼  Šin€the€Constitution.€€That€would€ensure€that€any€legislation€passed€in€the€future€respected€thoseŠ Øų Šprinciples,€since€Parliamentary€enactments€could€not€amend€the€provisions€of€the€Constitution€andŠ ”ä Šmust€therefore€be€consistent€with€them.Š €Š ŠĢ500.€€Referring€to€the€subject€of€discrimination,€he€explained€that€section€16€(1)€of€the€ConstitutionŠ X Ø Šcontained€a€general€clause€prohibiting€discrimination€and€indicating€certain€exceptions.€€ThoseŠ D!” Šexceptions€were€set€out€in€section€16€(4)€(which€referred€to€the€acquisition€of€property€in€Mauritius,Š 0"€  Šand€to€persons€who€were€not€citizens€of€Mauritius€and€those€to€whom€specific€personal€laws€appliedŠ #l! Šwith€regard€to€marriage,€divorce,€burial,€the€restitution€of€property€and€other€similar€matters)€and€inŠ $X" Šsection€16€(5)€(which€concerned€levels€of€qualifications€and€had€nothing€to€do€with€race,€religion,Š ō$D # Šcaste,€place€of€origin,€political€opinions,€creed€or€color).€€Section€9€(2)€established€other€restrictionsŠ ą%0!$ Šof€that€principle,€in€connection€with€matters€of€defense,€morality,€public€order€and€safety,€health,Š Ģ&"% Šurban€planning€and€other€social€questions.Š ø'#& ŠĢ501.€€He€further€stated,€in€reply€to€questions€on€the€organization€of€the€Judiciary,€that€the€SupremeŠ )ą$( ŠCourt€was€the€guardian€of€the€Constitution.€€There€were€District€Courts€and€Intermediate€CourtsŠ |*Ģ%) Šwhich€heard€both€civil€and€criminal€matters,€depending€on€the€size€of€the€claim€and€the€importanceŠ h+ø&* Šor€seriousness€of€the€case.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š502.€€At€the€top€of€the€pyramid€was€the€Supreme€Court€which€had€original€jurisdiction€in€any€matterŠ ° Šand€could€also€sit€as€an€appellate€court.€€As€such,€it€was€composed€of€two€judges€who€heard€appealsŠ œģ Šon€cases€from€the€District€Courts€and€the€Intermediate€Courts.€€The€decisions€of€the€Supreme€CourtŠ ˆŲ Šcould€be€appealed€in€the€Court€of€Civil€Appeal€or€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeal,€as€appropriate,Š tÄ Šthose€two€Courts€being€composed€of€the€full€Bench€of€Judges€of€the€Supreme€Court,€less€the€judgeŠ `° Šwhose€decision€was€being€appealed.€€In€theory,€any€member€of€the€bar€who€had€at€least€seven€yearsššŠ L œ Šexperience€might€be€appointed€a€judge;€in€practice,€however,€judges€were€appointed€from€the€ranksŠ 8 ˆ Šof€the€senior€magistracy,€whose€members€usually€had€between€20€and€25€yearsšš€experience€in€theŠ $ t Šfield€of€law.Š  ` ŠĢ503.€€As€the€system€of€separation€of€powers€was€applied€in€Mauritius,€magistrates€and€judges€wereŠ č 8  Šappointed€by€an€independent€Commission€presided€over€by€the€Chief€Justice,€who€was€the€head€ofŠ Ō$  Šthe€Judiciary€and€was€appointed€by€the€Governor„General,€after€consultation€with€the€Prime€Minister.€Š Ą  ŠThe€Chief€Justice€was€invariably€chosen€from€the€ranks€of€the€senior€judges,€and€the€Governor„Š ¬ü  ŠGeneral€was€bound€only€to€consult€the€Prime€Minister€before€making€the€appointment,€but€was€notŠ ˜č  Šbound€to€accept€his€views.€€Judges€enjoyed€security€of€tenure€and€could€be€removed€from€their€postsŠ „Ō  Šonly€for€physical€or€mental€inability€to€perform€the€functions€of€their€office€or€for€misbehavior,Š pĄ Šmatters€which€were€decided€in€accordance€with€the€procedures€laid€down€in€section€78€(3)€and€(4)Š \¬ Šof€the€Constitution.€€That€section€provided€for€the€establishment€of€a€tribunal€composed€of€threeŠ H˜ Špracticing€or€retired€judges€to€investigate€the€case.€€The€tribunal€then€transmitted€its€findings€to€theŠ 4„ ŠGovernor„General€who€took€the€final€decision.€€He€also€drew€attention€to€the€fact€that€the€salariesŠ  p Šof€judges€were€charged€to€the€Consolidated€Fund€and€were€not€subject€to€a€parliamentary€vote.Š  \ ŠĢ504.€€Replying€to€the€question€concerning€the€population€of€Mauritius,€he€said€that€the€island€hadŠ ä4 Šno€indigenous€population.€€Its€population€was€made€up€fo€the€descendants€of€those€who€came€to€theŠ Š  Šisland€during€its€occupation€by€France€(in€the€eighteenth€century)€and€the€United€Kingdom€(in€theŠ ¼  Šnineteenth),€as€well€as€the€agricultural€workers€from€Africa,€Madagascar,€India€and€China€whoseŠ Øų Šsettlement€had€been€encouraged€by€those€occupying€the€island,€because€they€wanted€agriculturalŠ ”ä ŠŌ_ŌlabourŌ_Ō.€€The€people€of€Mauritius€therefore€came€from€Europe,€Asia€and€Africa€and,€despite€differentŠ €Š Šorigins€and€religions,€were€trying€to€live€together€harmoniously€fully€respecting€the€freedom€of€allŠ l¼ Šthe€religions€professed.€€French€was€the€language€used€in€the€majority€of€the€social€communicationŠ X Ø Šmedia,€but€the€radio€and€television€services€were€now€broadcasting€widely€in€Creole€(the€vernacular),Š D!” Šalthough€possibly€not€as€much€as€some€people€would€like.Š 0"€  ŠĢ505.€€Referring€to€the€question€on€infant€mortality,€he€said€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€was€a€problem€of€the€past.€€HeŠ $X" Šdid€not€have€the€relevant€figures€with€him,€but€there€was€a€continuous€improvement€in€the€medicalŠ ō$D # Šservices€and€free€medical€treatment€for€all€citizens,€free€post„natal€care€for€babies€and€mothers,€paidŠ ą%0!$ Šmaternity€leave,€free€distribution€of€milk€to€children,€compulsory€vaccination,€etc.€€The€stage€hadŠ Ģ&"% Šnow€been€reached€where€the€baby€boom€was€much€more€of€a€problem€than€infant€mortality.Š ø'#& ŠĢ506.€€In€reply€to€the€question€whether€a€citizen€could€obtain€damages€from€the€administration€in€theŠ )ą$( Šcase€of€a€violation€of€human€rights,€he€replied€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€was€indeed€possible.€€He€explained€that€thereŠ |*Ģ%) Šwas€no€administrative€jurisdiction€(ņņŌ_ŌjuridictionŌ_Ō€administrativeóó)€and€that€such€claims€had€to€beŠ h+ø&* Šsubmitted€to€a€court€of€law.€€The€amount€of€damages€payable€was€proportionate€to€the€damageŠ T,¤'+ Šcaused,€and€that€covered€actual€damages,€loss€of€profits€and€even€moral€damages.Š @-(, Š‡507.€€The€Covenant€could€not€be€invoked€as€a€positive€right€before€a€court€of€law;€a€claimant€hadŠ ° Što€base€his€action€on€the€constitutional€provisions€providing€the€same€guarantees€and€the€courtsŠ œģ Šmight€well€be€guided€in€their€decision€by€the€principles€of€the€Covenant.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ508.€€There€were€no€special€procedures€to€prevent€or€combat€discrimination,€such€as€the€UnitedŠ `° ŠKingdomššs€Race€Relations€Board.€€Racial€discrimination€was€a€violation€of€the€Constitution€ofŠ L œ ŠMauritius€and€cases€involving€such€violations€were€dealt€with€by€the€Supreme€Court,€the€HighestŠ 8 ˆ Štribunal€of€the€land.Š $ t ŠĢ509.€€Some€members€having€expressed€the€view€that€the€guarantees€offered€by€section€3€of€theŠ ü L  ŠConstitution€did€not€appear€to€cover€all€the€rights€enumerated€in€articles€22,€23,€24€and€25€of€theŠ č 8  ŠCovenant,€he€referred€to€that€subject,€first€reading€out€section€3€of€the€Constitution.€€He€pointed€outŠ Ō$  Šthat,€while€it€was€true€that€section€3€did€not€cover€all€the€rights€enumerated€in€articles€22,€23,€24€andŠ Ą  Š25€of€the€Covenant,€section€13€of€the€Constitution€established€all€the€rights€enunciated€in€theŠ ¬ü  ŠCovenant€concerning€freedom€of€association;€the€Civil€Code€and€the€Civil€Status€OrdinanceŠ ˜č  Šguaranteed€the€rights€enunciated€in€article€23€of€the€Covenant€and,€in€conjunction€with€the€MauritiusŠ „Ō  ŠCitizenship€Act,€also€provided€that€any€child€born€in€Mauritius€was€a€Mauritian€national.€Š pĄ ŠImplementation€of€the€provisions€of€article€25€of€the€Covenant€was€guaranteed€under€various€otherŠ \¬ Šlaws,€namely€the€Representation€of€the€People€Ordinance,€the€Local€Government€Ordinance€and€theŠ H˜ ŠPublic€Service€Regulations€made€under€the€authority€of€the€Constitution.€Freedom€of€movement€wasŠ 4„ Šexpressly€provided€for€in€section€15€of€the€Constitution.Š  p ŠĢ510.€€In€reply€to€another€inquiry€concerning€the€power€given€to€the€Chief€Justice€to€make€certainŠ ųH Šrules€(section€17€of€the€Constitution),€he€explained€that€the€rules€in€question€related€only€to€questionsŠ ä4 Šof€form€and€procedure€and€that€they€must€be€approved€by€the€whole€body€of€judges€of€the€SupremeŠ Š  ŠCourt.€Š ¼  ŠĢ511.€€Referring€to€questions€concerning€the€status€of€women,€he€drew€attention€to€the€fact€that€thereŠ ”ä Šwere€two€marriage€Ō_ŌrgimesŌ_Ō€and€that€women€could€opt€for€the€1949€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō,€which€allowed€all€womenŠ €Š Šmarried€before€1949€to€opt,€by€simple€declaration€within€a€period€of€one€year€of€its€promulgation,Š l¼ Šfor€the€new€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō.€€Most€women,€however,€had€adhered€to€the€old€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€and€the€majority€of€youngŠ X Ø Šcouples€chose€the€old€system.€€That€was€because€the€community„of„property€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€did€offer€certainŠ D!” Šadvantages€in€a€society€where€the€husband€was€still€the€bread„winner,€and€his€earnings€became€partŠ 0"€  Šof€the€communal€property.€€The€existence€of€inequality€nevertheless€seemed€intolerable€and€for€thatŠ #l! Šreason€a€Commission€was€currently€considering€various€amendments€to€the€Civil€Code€designed€toŠ $X" Šimprove€the€situation€of€women€in€marriage.€The€law€permitting€the€husband€to€claim€damages€fromŠ ō$D # Šanyone€who€had€committed€adultery€with€his€wife€had€been€repealed€six€months€previously€and€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠCivil€Code€now€provided€that€both€spouses€could€claim€equally€against€any€third€person€guilty€ofŠ Ģ&"% Šcausing€divorce.Š ø'#& ŠĢ512.€€A€number€of€members€of€the€Committee€having€drawn€attention€to€article€4€of€the€CovenantŠ )ą$( Šwhich€provided€for€the€suspension,€in€exceptional€circumstances,€of€certain,€but€not€all,€of€its€rightsŠ |*Ģ%) Šand€guarantees,€the€representative€of€Mauritius€referred€to€section€18€of€the€Constitution€whichŠ h+ø&* Šprovided€for€suspension€only€of€the€guarantees€provided€in€sections€5€and€16€for€the€duration€of€theŠ T,¤'+ Šemergency,€and€to€section€18€(e),€which€laid€down€strict€provisions€for€rules€concerning€theŠ @-(, Šdeclaration€of€an€emergency.Š ° ŠĢ513.€€In€reply€to€the€questions€which€had€been€asked€about€capital€punishment,€he€stated€that€the€lastŠ ˆŲ Šexecution€in€Mauritius€had€taken€place€in€1958.€€Since€then,€although€death€sentences€had€beenŠ tÄ Špassed,€they€had€not€been€carried€out.Š `° ŠĢ514.€€He€stated€further€that€there€were€no€legal€rules€concerning€the€conduct€of€medical€experimentsŠ 8 ˆ Šwithout€the€permission€of€the€persons€on€whom€they€were€to€be€carried€out.€€That€did€not€seem€toŠ $ t Šbe€a€problem,€however,€in€developing€countries.€€If€such€a€situation€were€to€arise,€the€courts€wouldŠ  ` Šapply€the€maxim€ņņš šŌ_ŌvolentiŌ_Ō€non€fit€Ō_ŌinjuriaŌ_Ōššóó.Š ü L  ŠĢ515.€€He€said€that€he€could€readily€understand€the€attitude€of€members€of€the€Committee€towards€theŠ Ō$  Šexisting€legislation€concerning€corporal€punishment€in€prisons,€but€the€law€dated€from€1881€or€1891Š Ą  Šand€was€no€longer€applied€in€penal€institutions.€€He€added€that€the€law€governing€the€prisons€wouldŠ ¬ü  Šbe€superseded€during€the€current€year€by€a€new€bill€which€was€already€prepared€for€approval€byŠ ˜č  ŠParliament€and€did€not€contain€any€provision€for€corporal€punishment€of€prisoners.Š „Ō  ŠĢ516.€€He€admitted€the€pertinence€of€the€objection€voiced€by€members€of€the€Committee€regardingŠ \¬ Šcomplaints€against€members€of€the€police,€which€were€investigated€by€the€police€force€itself,€but€heŠ H˜ Špointed€out€that€all€steps€were€taken€to€guarantee€the€independence€of€the€persons€handling€theŠ 4„ Šinvestigation.€€First,€the€investigation€had€to€be€carried€out€by€a€senior€police€officer,€usually€notŠ  p Šbelow€the€rank€of€superintendent,€or€the€officer€in€charge€of€the€district.€€The€Commissioner€ofŠ  \ ŠPolice,€the€head€of€the€police€force,€took€part€and€he€had€to€refer€the€whole€inquiry€to€the€DirectorŠ ųH Šof€Public€Prosecutions€who€could€decide€that€further€inquiries€were€needed€if€he€was€not€satisfied.€Š ä4 ŠThe€Commissioner€would€also€decide€whether€there€was€cause€for€public€prosecution€or€not.€€If€heŠ Š  Šdecided€against€such€action,€the€victim€could€institute€a€private€action.Š ¼  ŠĢ517.€€Replying€to€questions€asked€by€various€members€of€the€Committee€concerning€the€informationŠ ”ä Šgiven€to€a€person€about€the€reasons€for€his€arrest€at€the€time€when€the€arrest€took€place€(article€9€ofŠ €Š Šthe€Covenant),€the€representative€of€Mauritius€read€out€paragraph€2€of€that€article€and€section€10€(2)Š l¼ Šof€the€Constitution,€pointing€out€that€the€Covenant€referred€to€the€arrest,€whereas€the€ConstitutionŠ X Ø Šreferred€to€the€charges€of€which€the€arrested€person€should€be€informed€as€soon€as€reasonablyŠ D!” Špracticable.€€In€his€view€there€was€no€contradiction€between€the€two€provisions.€€In€any€case,€theŠ 0"€  ŠIntermediate€and€District€Courts€(Criminal€Jurisdiction)€Ordinance€stipulated€that€any€personŠ #l! Šarrested€must€be€immediately€informed€of€the€reasons€for€his€arrest.€€The€person€arrested€or€detainedŠ $X" Šmust€be€brought€before€a€magistrate€within€approximately€five€days,€according€to€the€practice€of€theŠ ō$D # Šcourts.€€One€member€had€drawn€attention€to€the€exceptional€powers€of€the€Commissioner€of€PoliceŠ ą%0!$ Šunder€section€5€(1)€(k)€of€the€Constitution€which€provided€that€a€person€could€be€arrested€uponŠ Ģ&"% Šreasonable€suspicion€of€his€having€engaged€in,€or€being€about€to€engage€in,€activities€likely€to€causeŠ ø'#& Ša€serious€threat€to€public€safety€or€public€order.€€He€admitted€€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€was€a€power€of€preventiveŠ ¤(ō#' Šdetention,€and€then€even€though€it€was€justified€by€the€requirements€of€public€safety,€it€was€anŠ )ą$( Šexceptional€power.€€The€Constitution€therefore€provided€for€a€number€of€different€formalities€toŠ |*Ģ%) Šensure€that€Ō_ŌthatŌ_Ō€power€might€not€be€abused.€€The€person€arrested€could€demand€that€his€case€beŠ h+ø&* Šreviewed€by€a€Special€Tribunal€which€was€invariably€presided€over€by€one€of€the€most€distinguishedŠ T,¤'+ Šlawyers,€a€Queenššs€Counsel€who€had€spent€all€his€life€defending€people€before€the€highest€courts€ofŠ @-(, Šthe€land.€€The€fact€that€a€special€tribunal€was€envisaged€for€such€cases€did€not€preclude€the€right€ofŠ ° Šthe€person€to€apply€for€ņņhabeas€corpusóó€to€the€Supreme€Court,€which€had€to€examine€both€questionsŠ œģ Šof€form€and€questions€of€substance,€including€the€evidence€on€which€the€Commissioner€had€basedŠ ˆŲ Šhis€opinion€that€the€detained€person€was€likely€to€cause€a€serious€threat€to€public€safety.€€He€assuredŠ tÄ Šthe€Committee€that€although,€under€section€5€(6)€of€the€Constitution,€the€Commissioner€of€PoliceŠ `° Šwas€not€subject€to€the€control€of€any€other€authority,€that€did€not€exclude€the€control€of€the€courtsŠ L œ Š(section€119€of€the€Constitution)€and€a€Commissioner€who€committed€an€unlawful€arrest€or€detentionŠ 8 ˆ Šcould€be€sued€in€a€court€of€law€and€made€to€pay€damages€(section5€(5)€of€the€Constitution).€Š $ t ŠĢ518.€€The€representative€of€Mauritius€also€provided€information€in€reply€to€the€question€concerningŠ ü L  Šimprisonment€for€debt.€€He€explained€that€no€one€could€be€imprisoned€before€all€possibilities€of€useŠ č 8  Šof€his€assets€to€meet€his€indebtedness€had€been€exhausted.€€In€such€a€case,€if€the€creditor€swore€thatŠ Ō$  Šthe€debtor€had€concealed€or€maliciously€sold€his€assets€in€order€to€evade€his€obligations€and€provedŠ Ą  Šthe€fraud€by€means€of€witnesses€or€other€means,€the€court€could€decide€to€grant€a€time„limit€forŠ ¬ü  Špayment€and,€if€payment€was€not€made€within€the€time„limit,€order€the€debtor€to€be€imprisoned.Š ˜č  ŠĢ519.€€In€reply€to€the€question€concerning€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€he€explained€that€anŠ pĄ Šadministrative€investigation€was€carried€out€to€determine€whether€a€person€had€the€means€to€pay€forŠ \¬ Šnecessary€legal€assistance.€€If€the€result€was€negative,€the€person€could€appeal€to€the€courts.€€InŠ H˜ Šcriminal€cases,€however,€the€accused€never€remained€without€a€defense€as€he€was€provided€withŠ 4„ Šdefense€counsel€by€the€authorities.Š  p ŠĢ520.€€The€representative€of€Mauritius€stated,€in€conclusion,€that€any€questions€still€unanswered€wouldŠ ųH Šbe€answered€in€writing,€with€quotations€from€the€relevant€laws€and€regulations,€which€he€did€notŠ ä4 Šhave€available€at€Geneva.Š  Š  Šņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€A/44/40€Ō_Ō(1989)Ō_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢó ó487.€€The€Committee€considered€the€second€periodic€report€of€Mauritius€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/28Add.12)€at€itsŠ tÄ Š904ņņthóó€to€906ņņthóó€meetings,€held€on€17€and€18€July€1989€(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/SR.904„906).Š `° ŠĢ488.€€The€report€was€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€apologized€to€theŠ 8 ˆ ŠCommittee€on€behalf€of€the€Government€of€Mauritius€for€the€extremely€late€submission€of€theŠ $ t Šsecond€report.€€The€delay€had€been€due€to€various€factors€beyond€the€Governmentššs€control,€inŠ  ` Šparticular,€an€internal€re„organization€that€had€given€rise€to€three€general€elections€in€a€very€shortŠ ü L  Šperiod.€€He€assured€the€Committee€that€the€Government€of€Mauritius€would€make€every€effort€toŠ č 8  Šensure€the€early€submission€of€the€third€periodic€report,€which€would€contain€any€information€it€hadŠ Ō$  Šnot€been€possible€to€provide€at€the€current€session€of€the€Committee.Š Ą  ŠĢņņConstitutional€and€legal€framework€within€which€the€Covenant€is€implementedóóŠ ˜č  ŠĢ489.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€an€explanation€of€the€reference€in€paragraph€8€of€theŠ pĄ Šreport€to€judgements€of€the€Supreme€Court€in€which€the€Court€had€referred€to€provisions€of€theŠ \¬ ŠCovenant€and€for€examples€if€possible.€€They€also€asked€for€further€information€on€the€efforts€madeŠ H˜ Šin€Mauritius€to€inform€the€population€at€large€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€and€on€any€specialŠ 4„ Šactivities€undertaken€by€the€Government€of€Mauritius€to€inform€the€population€of€the€right€of€everyŠ  p Šperson€who€believed€he€had€been€the€victim€of€a€violation€of€any€of€the€rights€guaranteed€in€theŠ  \ ŠCovenant€to€address€a€communication€to€the€Human€Rights€Committee€under€the€Optional€Protocol.€Š ųH ŠMembers€of€the€Committee€asked€whether€there€were€factors€or€difficulties€that€might€possibly€beŠ ä4 Šhindering€the€implementation€of€the€Covenant.Š Š  ŠĢ490.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€asked€whether€the€revision€of€legislation€and€of€certain€partsŠ Øų Šof€the€Constitution€to€bring€Mauritian€legislation€more€into€line€with€the€Covenant€was€continuingŠ ”ä Šand€what€areas€were€currently€being€dealt€with;€what€was€the€legal€force€of€the€Covenant€in€theŠ €Š ŠMauritian€Constitution€and€legislation;€which€laws€gave€effect€to€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant;Š l¼ Šwhich€guarantees€might€be€suspended€in€a€state€of€emergency€and,€in€particular,€whether€article€16Š X Ø Šof€the€Mauritian€Constitution€could€be€suspended.€€They€wished€to€have€more€information€on€theŠ D!” Šexact€competence€of€the€Supreme€Court,€for€the€report€did€not€indicate€clearly€whether€that€body€hadŠ 0"€  Špowers€equivalent€to€those€of€a€constitutional€court:€was€it€the€Supreme€Court€that€decided€whetherŠ #l! Ša€law€was€constitutional,€and€if€so,€what€was€the€procedure€followed€to€invalidate€a€law?Š $X" ŠĢ491.€€Referring€to€paragraph€7€of€the€report,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€clarifications€ofŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€terms€š štwo„foldšš€and€š šdemocratic€societyšš.€€Noting€that€the€report€was€extremely€brief,€they€saidŠ Ģ&"% Šthey€would€have€liked€more€information€on€events€in€the€country€during€the€10€years€that€had€elapsedŠ ø'#& Šsince€the€Mauritian€Governmentššs€submission€of€its€initial€report.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢ492.€€Replying€to€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateŠ |*Ģ%) Šparty€cited€two€cases€where€reference€had€been€made€to€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€including€a€caseŠ h+ø&* Šwhere€a€defendantššs€conviction€had€been€reversed€because€of€the€failure€of€the€authorities€to€informŠ T,¤'+ Šhim€of€the€charges€he€faced€in€a€language€he€could€understand,€as€provided€in€paragraph€3€(f)€ofŠ @-(, Šarticle€14€of€the€Covenant.€€He€explained€that€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€were€mentioned€inŠ ° Štrials€only€occasionally,€for€reference€was€usually€made€to€the€Constitution.€€Concerning€action€byŠ œģ Šthe€Government€to€inform€the€population€of€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€he€said€that€onlyŠ ˆŲ Šrepresentatives€of€certain€professions€„€such€as€judges,€lawyers€and€journalists€„€were€familiar€withŠ tÄ Šthe€Covenant€in€detail;€the€rest€of€the€population€took€little€interest€in€international€human€rightsŠ `° Šinstruments.€€However,€the€Covenant€was€regularly€quoted€in€newspapers,€the€National€AssemblyŠ L œ Šand€the€courts€when€a€case€involving€a€possible€human€rights€violation€arose;€various€human€rightsššŠ 8 ˆ Šdefense€groups€and€associations€were€also€familiar€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant.€€RegardingŠ $ t Šdifficulties,€he€said€it€was€not€easy€to€single€out€any€specific€ones€but€he€was€certain€that€they€existedŠ  ` Šin€Mauritius,€as€in€all€countries.Š ü L  ŠĢ493.€€In€Mauritius,€it€was€not€necessary€to€adopt€a€law€to€give€effect€to€a€particular€provision€of€theŠ Ō$  ŠConstitution.€€Neither€was€it€necessary€to€repeal€a€law€that€the€Supreme€Court€had€declared€to€beŠ Ą  Šcontrary€to€the€Constitution:€such€a€law€would€automatically€become€null€and€void.€€In€Mauritius,Š ¬ü  Šthe€Supreme€Court€had€the€power€to€declare€a€law€unconstitutional;€no€appeal€was€therefore€possible,Š ˜č  Šexcept€to€the€Privy€Council€in€London,€a€procedure€that€had€never€been€used.€€The€Covenant€did€notŠ „Ō  Šhave€the€force€of€law€as€such,€but€was€applied€in€practice,€since€all€its€provisions€were€reflected€inŠ pĄ Šthe€Constitution.€€Furthermore,€with€time,€laws€were€being€adopted€or€abolished€continually€to€bringŠ \¬ Šlegislation€more€into€line€to€the€Covenant.€In€Mauritius€there€could€be€no€derogation€from€theŠ H˜ ŠConstitution€with€regard€to€essential€rights€such€as€the€right€to€life,€ņņhabeas€corpusóó,€protection€againstŠ 4„ Štorture€or€slavery.€€Other€derogations€should€not€be€contrary€to€the€Covenant.€Š  p ŠĢņņSelf„determinationóóŠ ųH ŠĢ494.€€Regarding€this€question,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€what€Mauritiusššs€position€wasŠ Š  Šconcerning€the€right€to€self„determination€of€the€South€African,€Namibian€and€Palestinian€peoples;Š ¼  Šwhether€Mauritius€had€taken€measures€to€prevent€public€or€private€support€for€the€ņņapartheidóó€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_ŌŠ Øų Šof€South€Africa;€what€the€current€status€of€the€Chagos€Archipelago€was€under€international€law;€andŠ ”ä Šwhether€the€population€of€the€Archipelago€had€been€asked€its€opinion€about€self„determination,Š €Š Šincluding€the€possibility€of€being€united€with€Mauritius.Š l¼ ŠĢ495.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€wished€to€know€the€results€of€the€diplomatic€effortsŠ D!” Šundertaken€to€recover€that€territory,€as€well€as€future€prospects€or€possible€difficulties.€€They€askedŠ 0"€  Šfor€more€information€concerning€the€inhabitants€of€the€Chagos€Archipelago€who€had€been€displacedŠ #l! Šin€1965,€in€particular€their€current€social€and€political€status€and€whether€they€still€wished€to€returnŠ $X" Što€the€Archipelago.Š ō$D # ŠĢ496.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€his€country,€as€a€member€of€theŠ Ģ&"% ŠOrganization€of€African€Unity€and€the€United€Nations,€had€supported€all€United€Nations€resolutionsŠ ø'#& Šconcerning€the€right€to€self„determination€of€the€South€African,€Namibian€and€Palestinian€peoples.€Š ¤(ō#' ŠThat€stand€had€been€reaffirmed€by€the€Prime€Minister€of€Mauritius€in€his€statement€before€theŠ )ą$( ŠGeneral€assembly€on€12€October€1988,€in€which€he€had€pronounced€himself€in€favor€of€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šrestoration€of€all€of€the€Palestiniansšš€rights.€€Regarding€measures€taken€to€prevent€any€public€orŠ h+ø&* Šprivate€support€for€the€ņņapartheidóó€€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€of€South€Africa,€he€stated€that€his€delegation€was€happy€toŠ T,¤'+ Šhave€the€opportunity€to€clarify€the€situation€in€view€of€the€concerted€campaign€regarding€MauritiusššŠ @-(, Šrelations€with€South€Africa.€€While€it€was€true€that€certain€private€enterprises€continued€to€have€tiesŠ ° Šwith€South€Africa,€the€existence€of€such€ties€had€to€be€seen€in€the€context€of€the€strongŠ œģ Šadministrative€and€economic€links€that€had€existed€between€South€Africa€and€Mauritius€during€theŠ ˆŲ ŠBritish€colonial€era,€the€fact€that€South€Africa€was€geographically€the€nearest€country€to€MauritiusŠ tÄ Šon€the€continent,€and€the€continued€existence€of€family€connections€between€some€of€the€inhabitantsŠ `° Šof€the€two€countries.€€However,€the€Government€had€sought€to€reduce€such€relations€with€SouthŠ L œ ŠAfrica,€which€were€already€limited,€even€further€over€the€several€years€and€there€had€been€reductionsŠ 8 ˆ Šduring€that€period€in€the€level€of€imports,€exports,€investment€and€tourism.Š $ t ŠĢ497.€€The€Chagos€Archipelago,€which€had€been€separated€from€Mauritius€in€1965,€that€is,€beforeŠ ü L  Šindependence,€had€been€combined€with€other€territories€to€form€a€new€colony,€the€British€IndianŠ č 8  ŠOcean€Territories.€€At€that€time,€all€Mauritians€in€the€Archipelago€had€been€brought€back€toŠ Ō$  ŠMauritius,€and€in€1968,€at€the€time€of€independence,€the€Mauritian€citizenship€of€persons€from€theŠ Ą  ŠChagos€Archipelago€had€been€retained€under€article€20.4€of€the€Constitution.€€Those€who€had€beenŠ ¬ü  Šliving€in€the€Archipelago€before€separation€were€Mauritians€and€had€always€been€considered€as€such.Š ˜č  ŠĢ498.€€Mauritius€had€never€given€up€the€idea€of€obtaining€the€restitution€of€the€Chagos€ArchipelagoŠ pĄ Šand€was€making€every€effort€to€mobilize€international€public€opinion€to€that€end.€€The€entireŠ \¬ ŠMauritian€community€was€working€to€obtain€the€return€of€the€Chagos€Archipelago€to€MauritianŠ H˜ Šterritory€and€the€former€inhabitants€of€the€islands€were€prepared€to€return€there.Š 4„ ŠĢņņState€of€emergencyóóŠ  \ ŠĢ499.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€indications€of€the€legal€provisions€in€Mauritius€withŠ ä4 Šregard€to€the€imposition€of€a€state€of€emergency€and€for€clarifications€on€their€conformity€with€articleŠ Š  Š4,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Covenant.€€They€also€asked€for€clarifications€on€the€provisions€of€article€18Š ¼  Šof€the€Constitution,€which€in€their€opinion€were€less€strict€than€the€corresponding€provisions€of€theŠ Øų ŠCovenant,€and€for€information€as€to€who€actually€took€the€decision€to€proclaim€a€state€of€emergencyŠ ”ä Šin€Mauritius.Š €Š ŠĢ500.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€replied€that€article€18€of€Mauritian€Constitution€set€forthŠ X Ø Šthe€derogations€from€fundamental€rights€and€freedoms€that€were€authorized€under€the€state€ofŠ D!” Šemergency.€€He€explained€that€the€state€of€emergency€was€proclaimed€by€the€Governor„GeneralŠ 0"€  Š(representative€of€Her€Majesty€the€Queen)€and€that€the€proclamation€was€preceded€by€consultationsŠ #l! Šbetween€the€Head€of€State,€the€Prime€Minister,€the€Cabinet€and€the€Governor„General.€€TheŠ $X" Šproclamation€had€to€be€confirmed€by€a€two€thirds€majority€vote€of€the€members€elected€to€theŠ ō$D # ŠLegislative€Assembly€(Parliament).Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ501.€€Regarding€the€use€of€terms€in€article€18€of€the€Constitution€that€differed€from€those€of€theŠ ø'#& ŠCovenant,€he€said€that€in€his€opinion€the€only€possible€interpretation€of€that€article€was€that€of€publicŠ ¤(ō#' Šemergency€in€the€meaning€of€the€Covenant,€i.e.€circumstances€threatening€society€itself€and€theŠ )ą$( Šnation.€€The€difference€between€the€terms€used€could€not€be€interpreted€as€authorizing€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šproclamation€of€a€state€of€emergency€under€circumstances€other€than€those€set€forth€in€the€Covenant.€Š h+ø&* ŠThe€provisions€of€the€Constitution€relating€to€the€state€of€emergency€had€to€be€considered€in€the€lightŠ T,¤'+ Šof€his€countryššs€special€situation€and€understood€in€terms€of€the€nature€of€its€institutions.Š @-(, Š‡ņņNon„discrimination€and€equality€between€the€sexesóóŠ ° ŠĢ502.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€whether€significant€inequalities€still€existed€between€spousesŠ ˆŲ Šwith€regard€to€marriage,€during€the€marriage€and€at€its€dissolution,€even€after€the€recent€revision€ofŠ tÄ Šthe€Civil€Code.€€They€asked€for€further€information€on€the€duties€and€functions€of€the€Ministry€ofŠ `° ŠWomenššs€Rights€and€Family€Welfare€and€on€the€activities€of€the€National€Womenššs€Council€and€theŠ L œ Šeffectiveness€of€its€work.€€With€regard€to€the€treatment€of€foreigners,€they€wished€to€know€in€whatŠ 8 ˆ Šrespect,€apart€from€political€rights,€the€rights€of€foreigners€were€more€limited€than€those€of€nationals.€Š $ t ŠMembers€of€the€Committee€also€asked€to€be€supplied€with€further€information€in€accordance€withŠ  ` Šthe€Committeeššs€general€comment€No.€15€(27).Š ü L  ŠĢ503.€€Noting€that€article€16,€paragraph€3,€of€the€Constitution€did€not€mention€either€language€or€sexŠ Ō$  Šas€grounds€for€discrimination,€members€of€the€Committee€said€that€those€two€elements€should€beŠ Ą  Šmentioned€if€the€text€of€the€Constitution€was€to€be€fully€in€conformity€with€that€of€the€Covenant.€Š ¬ü  ŠThey€wished€to€know€the€meaning€of€the€sentence€š štradition€and€cultural€patterns€still€cause€someŠ ˜č  Šdifferences€in€the€lives€of€men€and€womenšš€and€whether€the€application€of€the€three€matrimonialŠ „Ō  ŠŌ_ŌrgimesŌ_Ō€had€raised€problems,€given€the€religious€and€cultural€difficulties.€€Clarifications€wereŠ pĄ Šrequested€concerning€the€contractual€Ō_ŌrgimesŌ_Ō€entered€into€by€the€spouses€at€the€time€of€marriage.€Š \¬ ŠThey€also€asked€whether€foreign€women€who€married€Mauritians€could€keep€their€originalŠ H˜ Šnationality€or€whether€they€automatically€acquired€their€spousesššs€nationality.€€Members€also€askedŠ 4„ Šwhat€percentages€the€various€communities€represented€within€the€Mauritian€population€and€to€whatŠ  p Šextent€each€of€those€communities€participated€in€public€affairs.Š  \ ŠĢ504.€€Replying€to€the€questions€raised,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€said€that€in€Mauritius,€notŠ ä4 Šcounting€minorities,€the€population€was€divided,€from€an€electoral€point€of€view,€into€four€majorŠ Š  Šcategories€according€to€origin:€the€Chinese;€what€was€generally€termed€the€š šgeneral€populationšš;€theŠ ¼  ŠHindus;€and€the€Muslims.€€Members€of€all€of€these€groups€having€the€necessary€qualifications€couldŠ Øų Šseek€public€office€or€election€to€the€assembly€without€any€legal€or€practical€obstacles.€€Under€theŠ ”ä ŠConstitution,€eight€seats€in€the€Legislative€Assembly€were€reserved€to€ensure€a€certain€equilibriumŠ €Š Šin€the€representation€of€the€various€electoral€groups.€€With€regard€to€the€prohibition€of€discriminationŠ l¼ Šbased€on€language,€he€said€that€nothing€in€the€Mauritian€Constitution€provided€for€either€advantagesŠ X Ø Šor€disadvantages€linked€to€language.€€In€practice,€for€several€years€all€the€communities€had€been€ableŠ D!” Što€promote€the€use€of€their€own€language€and€to€study€in€their€language€in€the€public€schools.Š 0"€  ŠĢ505.€€Referring€to€questions€on€the€matrimonial€Ō_ŌrgimesŌ_Ō,€he€said€that€in€Mauritius€there€were€noŠ $X" Šsignificant€inequalities€between€spouses€under€the€law,€but€it€was€more€difficult€to€state€that€thereŠ ō$D # Šwere€no€significant€inequalities€between€spouses€in€practice,€given€the€multiracial€nature€of€theŠ ą%0!$ ŠMauritian€nation€where€each€ethnic€group€had€its€own€traditions.€€The€Mauritian€authorities€madeŠ Ģ&"% Ševery€effort€to€amend€or€eliminate€legal€provisions€that€did€not€guarantee€equal€treatment€betweenŠ ø'#& Šmen€and€women,€for€example,€with€regard€to€employment,€and€they€had€revised€the€Civil€CodeŠ ¤(ō#' Šprovisions€on€marriage.€€The€National€Womenššs€Council€had€also€been€active€in€making€womenŠ )ą$( Šbetter€aware€of€their€rights€regarding€such€matters€as€marriage€and€divorce€and€in€respect€of€theirŠ |*Ģ%) Šchildren,€and€special€consultative€groups€had€also€been€established€to€assist€€women€in€dealing€withŠ h+ø&* Štheir€problems.€€A€certain€amount€of€progress€in€improving€the€condition€of€women€had€already€beenŠ T,¤'+ Šachieved,€as€illustrated€by€the€increased€participation€of€women€in€public€life€and€in€sports.Š @-(, Š‡506.€€He€said€that,€in€practice,€the€matrimonial€Ō_ŌrgimesŌ_Ō€had€not€raised€any€problems€so€far.€€TheŠ ° Šcontractual€Ō_ŌrgimeŌ_Ō€entered€into€by€the€spouses€at€the€time€of€marriage€was€not€a€very€widely€usedŠ œģ Šprocedure;€contracts€of€that€type€had€never€given€rise€to€any€inequalities€and€had€never€beenŠ ˆŲ Šcontested€in€the€courts.€€He€stressed€that,€if€a€marriage€contract€freely€entered€into€by€the€spousesŠ tÄ Šproved€to€be€at€odds€with€the€principles€of€the€law€and€human€rights,€the€Supreme€Court€would€notŠ `° Šrecognize€the€validity€of€the€contract.€€Women€who€married€foreigners€retained€their€MauritianŠ L œ Šcitizenship€unless€they€made€a€formal€act€of€renunciation.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢņņRight€to€lifeóóŠ  ` ŠĢ507.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€often€and€forŠ č 8  Šwhat€crimes€the€death€penalty€had€been€imposed€and€executed€since€the€consideration€of€MauritiusššŠ Ō$  Šinitial€report;€whether€there€had€been€any€further€developments€since€the€submission€of€the€reportŠ Ą  Šconcerning€the€appeals€of€the€persons€sentenced€to€death€for€drug€trafficking;€what€were€the€rulesŠ ¬ü  Šand€regulations€governing€the€use€of€firearms€by€the€police€and€security€forces;€and€whether€thereŠ ˜č  Šhad€been€any€violations€of€these€rules€and€regulations€and,€if€so,€what€measures€had€been€taken€toŠ „Ō  Šprevent€their€recurrence.€€With€regard€to€the€problem€of€drug€consumption€and€drug€peddling,€theŠ pĄ Šrepresentative€was€asked€to€comment€on€the€recommendations€or€findings€of€the€ParliamentaryŠ \¬ ŠSelect€Committee€and€the€Commission€of€Inquiry,€as€well€as€on€the€effectiveness€of€the€campaignŠ H˜ Šagainst€drug€abuse€and€addiction.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€wished€to€have€additionalŠ 4„ Šinformation€on€article€6€of€the€Covenant,€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeššs€general€comments€No.Š  p Š6€(16)€and€14€(23).Š  \ ŠĢ508.€€Some€members€expressed€their€concern€about€the€reintroduction€and€application€of€the€deathŠ ä4 Špenalty€for€drug€traffickers€in€Mauritius€after€a€23€year€moratorium€and€said€that€to€extend€the€deathŠ Š  Špenalty€to€all€cases€of€drug€trafficking,€including€those€involving€the€sale€and€consumption€ofŠ ¼  Šunprocessed€coca€leaves,€was€an€excessive€measure.€€In€the€same€connection,€they€wished€to€knowŠ Øų Šwhat€minimum€quantity€of€drug€possession€constituted€trafficking,€whether€the€possession€of€thatŠ ”ä Šquantity€was€enough€to€shift€the€burden€of€proof€on€to€the€accused€person€and€which€dangerous€drugsŠ €Š Šwere€subject€to€government€authorization.€€Members€also€wished€to€know€what€discretion€a€judgeŠ l¼ Šwould€have€in€pronouncing€sentence€and€why€trial€by€jury€had€been€abandoned;€why€drug€traffickingŠ X Ø Šwas€considered€serious€enough€to€warrant€the€establishment€of€a€system€that€did€not€exist€in€otherŠ D!” Šcountries;€what€had€prompted€the€enactment€of€so€far„reaching€a€law;€and€whether€any€additionalŠ 0"€  Šsteps€had€been€taken€or€were€contemplated€to€bring€about€a€reduction€in€drug€trafficking.Š #l! ŠĢ509.€€Members€also€wished€to€know€whether€citizens€had€a€right€to€the€possession€and€use€ofŠ ō$D # Šfirearms€in€self„defense,€whether€special€licences€were€required€for€such€weapons€and€whether€theŠ ą%0!$ Špolice€were€permitted€to€carry€machine„guns€and€other€sophisticated€firearms.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ510.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€explained€that€the€offences€for€which€capitalŠ ¤(ō#' Špunishment€could€be€imposed€were€treason,€murder€and€the€recently€enacted€offence€of€importingŠ )ą$( Šdangerous€drugs.€€The€death€penalty€had€not€been€imposed€for€treason€since€the€submission€of€theŠ |*Ģ%) Šinitial€report.€€Two€executions€for€murder€had€taken€place€in€1984€and€1987.€€The€new€law€imposingŠ h+ø&* Šthe€death€penalty€for€the€import€of€drugs€had€been€passed€in€1986.€€There€had€been€two€convictionsŠ T,¤'+ Šin€1987.€€Since€the€submission€of€the€report,€there€had€been€a€further€conviction€for€the€import€ofŠ @-(, Šdrugs€in€which€an€appeal€to€the€Privy€Council€was€under€consideration.€€The€death€sentence€wasŠ ° Šlikely€to€be€imposed€only€on€persons€having€in€their€possession€a€sufficiently€substantial€quantity€ofŠ œģ Šdrugs€to€justify€the€conclusion€that€they€were€drug€traffickers.€€In€addition€to€the€introduction€of€theŠ ˆŲ Šdeath€penalty€for€drug€trafficking,€an€amendment€to€the€Dangerous€Drugs€Act€had€also€increased€theŠ tÄ Špenalties€for€a€number€of€other€drug€offences,€with€the€result€that€drug€trafficking€was€largely€underŠ `° Šcontrol.Š L œ ŠĢ511.€€The€types€of€drug€trafficking€that€involved€the€death€penalty€were€listed€in€the€Drug€Act.€€AsŠ $ t Šregards€coca€leaves,€the€Governmentššs€concern€had€been€not€so€much€with€consumption€as€withŠ  ` Šimportation€of€and€traffic€in€coca€leaves.€€Ō_ŌPhychotropicŌ_Ō€substances€were€not€included€in€the€list€ofŠ ü L  Šdangerous€drugs€but€prison€€sentences€and/or€fines€were€imposed€on€persons€found€to€be€inŠ č 8  Špossession€of€such€substances.€€It€was€up€to€the€court€to€decide€in€each€individual€instance€whetherŠ Ō$  Šan€accused€person€was€or€was€not€a€drug€trafficker.€€Trial€by€jury€had€been€abandoned€in€such€casesŠ Ą  Što€prevent€tampering€with€jurors.€€Judges€were€empowered€to€impose€the€death€penalty€for€drugŠ ¬ü  Štrafficking€just€as€in€cases€of€murder.Š ˜č  ŠĢ512.€€Regarding€the€presumption€of€innocence,€the€representative€said€that€it€was€quite€clear€underŠ pĄ Šthe€system€of€law€obtaining€in€Mauritius€that€the€burden€of€proof€rested€on€the€prosecution€and€thatŠ \¬ Šthe€accused€enjoyed€the€right€of€silence.€€If€drugs€were€found€in€a€personššs€luggage€and€the€court€wasŠ H˜ Šsatisfied€that€he€had€no€knowledge€of€their€presence,€he€could€not€be€convicted€under€anyŠ 4„ Šcircumstances.€€The€mere€possession€of€dangerous€drugs€without€any€proof€of€guilty€intent€wasŠ  p Šinsufficient€to€obtain€a€conviction.€€Mauritius€was€co„operating€with€several€States€to€eliminate€theŠ  \ Šthreat€of€widespread€traffic€in€drugs€but€this€did€not€affect€the€imposition€of€the€death€penalty€forŠ ųH Šdrug€offences.€€Indeed€the€imposition€of€such€penalties€on€convicted€drug€traffickers€was€also€likelyŠ ä4 Što€benefit€other€countries.Š Š  ŠĢ513.€€The€law€governing€the€use€of€firearms€by€the€police€and€security€forces€was€no€different€fromŠ Øų Šthat€applying€to€any€member€of€the€public.€€The€police€did€not€carry€machine„guns,€only€hand„guns.€Š ”ä ŠThere€had€been€no€cases€in€recent€years€of€injuries€caused€by€firearms.€€Firearms€could€only€beŠ €Š Šcarried€by€members€of€the€public€if€they€were€in€possession€of€a€licence€issued€by€the€CommissionerŠ l¼ Šof€Police.€€A€Firearms€Act€and€Firearms€Regulations€were€in€force€and€the€situation€was€well€underŠ X Ø Šcontrol.Š D!” ŠĢņņLiberty€and€security€of€the€person€and€the€treatment€of€prisoners€and€other€detaineesóóŠ #l! ŠĢ514.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€what€proportion€ofŠ ō$D # Špersons€charged€with€criminal€offences€were€denied€release€with€or€without€bail€pending€trial;€whatŠ ą%0!$ Šwas€the€average€length€of€detention€for€persons€who€remained€in€custody€pending€trial;€how€quicklyŠ Ģ&"% Šafter€arrest€a€personššs€family€was€informed€and€how€soon€after€arrest€a€person€could€contact€hisŠ ø'#& Šlawyer;€what€was€the€current€status€of€the€Reform€Institutions€Bill,€which,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€would€formallyŠ ¤(ō#' Šoutlaw€caning€in€prisons;€whether€the€United€Nations€Standard€Minimum€Rules€for€the€treatmentŠ )ą$( Šof€Prisoners€were€complied€with€and€whether€the€relevant€regulations€and€directives€were€known€andŠ |*Ģ%) Šaccessible€to€prisoners;€whether€prison€authorities€still€resorted€to€the€application€of€a€bread€andŠ h+ø&* Šwater€diet€for€a€period€of€seven€days€to€one€month€as€a€means€of€punishment€and,€if€so,€how€commonŠ T,¤'+ Šwas€that€practice;€and€what€was€the€minimum€age€at€which€a€person€could€be€held€criminallyŠ @-(, Šresponsible.Š ° ŠĢ515.€€Members€also€wished€to€know€why€the€time„limit€for€bringing€an€arrested€person€under€judicialŠ ˆŲ Šcontrol€was€not€legally€defined;€why€in€Mauritius€persons€could€be€imprisoned€for€failure€to€pay€aŠ tÄ Šdebt;€whether€the€offence€for€which€a€debtor€could€be€imprisoned€was€failure€to€pay€a€debt€orŠ `° Šcontempt€of€court;€and€whether€bail€was€automatically€disallowed€for€certain€categories€of€offences.€Š L œ ŠThey€also€sought€additional€information€on€the€enforceable€right€to€compensation€for€anyone€whoŠ 8 ˆ Šhad€been€a€victim€of€unlawful€detention;€on€the€Act€enabling€the€competent€minister€to€refer€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_ŌŠ $ t Šdisputes€to€compulsory€arbitration,€which€might€result€in€the€imposition€of€forced€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō;€and€on€theŠ  ` Šregulation€relating€to€the€liability€to€imprisonment€of€persons€without€visible€means€of€support.€€ItŠ ü L  Šwas€also€asked€what€the€minimum€age€was€at€which€a€person€could€be€imprisoned€or€held€criminallyŠ č 8  Šresponsible.Š Ō$  ŠĢ516.€€Replying€to€the€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateŠ ¬ü  Šparty€stated€that€the€number€of€cases€in€which€bail€was€denied€was€very€small.€€The€Bail€Act€No.Š ˜č  Š13/1989€had€considerably€relaxed€the€conditions€for€bail.€€Persons€arrested€on€charges€of€murder€orŠ „Ō  Šthe€importation€of€drugs€were€systematically€refused€bail,€but€bail€was€always€considered€for€otherŠ pĄ Šcategories€of€offences,€including€manslaughter.€€A€person€charged€with€murder€might€be€held€underŠ \¬ Šarrest€during€preliminary€investigation€for€a€period€of€up€to€8€or€even€12€months,€in€other€cases€muchŠ H˜ Šless€(1€to€3€months).€€The€families€of€arrested€persons€were€normally€informed€immediately.€€TheŠ 4„ ŠReform€Institutions€Bill€was€now€on€the€statute„book€as€the€Reform€Institutions€Act€No.€35/1988.€Š  p ŠIn€consequence,€caning€and€bread€and€water€diets€in€prisons€were€no€longer€legal.€€The€minimumŠ  \ Šage€at€which€a€person€could€be€held€criminally€responsible€had€not€been€specifically€laid€down€byŠ ųH Šthe€Parliament,€but€sections€44€and€45€of€the€Criminal€Code€gave€an€age€of€14,€below€whichŠ ä4 Šoffenders€were€not€deemed€to€be€criminally€responsible.€€Mauritian€law€also€contained€specialŠ Š  Šprovisions€ensuring€that€young€people€were€tried€separately€in€juvenile€courts€and€that€theŠ ¼  Špunishment€applicable€to€them€was€modified€as€compared€with€that€reserved€for€adult€offenders.€Š Øų ŠIn€the€case€of€unlawful€detention€by€a€police€officer,€the€State€was€responsible€for€payment€ofŠ ”ä Šdamages.Š €Š ŠĢ517.€€There€was€no€record€of€trade€union€officials€being€imprisoned€on€account€of€lawful€trade€unionŠ X Ø Šactivities;€nor€was€there€any€case€of€workers€in€either€the€public€or€private€sector€being€imprisonedŠ D!” Šfor€taking€part€in€strikes,€even€where€such€strikes€were€unlawful.€€Cases€of€forced€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō,€except€inŠ 0"€  Šconnection€with€lawful€prison€sentences,€were€inhuman€and€there€was€no€provision€for€such€practiceŠ #l! Šin€law.€€Imprisonment€was€not€ordered€automatically€for€simple€refusal€to€pay€a€debt€but€only€if€andŠ $X" Šwhen€the€court€was€satisfied€that€the€person€had€the€means€to€pay€but€was€still€wilfully€refusing€toŠ ō$D # Šdo€so.€€While€such€a€person€could€be€incarcerated,€he€would€be€immediately€released€upon€payingŠ ą%0!$ Šthe€debt.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢņņRight€to€a€fair€trialóóŠ ¤(ō#' ŠĢ518.€€With€regard€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€receive€necessary€additionalŠ |*Ģ%) Šinformation€on€article€14€of€the€Covenant,€pursuant€to€the€Committeeššs€general€comment€No.€13Š h+ø&* Š(21).€€They€also€asked€whether€any€steps€were€contemplated€to€enact€legislation€providing€forŠ T,¤'+ Šcompensation€to€persons€wrongfully€convicted€or€imprisoned,€in€accordance€with€the€requirementŠ @-(, Šin€article€14€(6)€of€the€Covenant.Š ° ŠĢ519.€€In€connection€with€section€4€of€the€Official€Secrets€Act,€a€member€pointed€out€that€theŠ ˆŲ Šprovisions€contained€therein€appeared€to€lay€the€burden€of€proof€on€the€accused€and€therefore€seemedŠ tÄ Što€be€contrary€to€article€14€(2)€of€the€Covenant€concerning€the€presumption€of€innocence.Š `° ŠĢ520.€€Replying€to€the€questions€raised,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€stated€that€theŠ 8 ˆ ŠCommitteeššs€general€comment€No.€13€(21)€was€very€helpful€to€the€legal€profession€and€to€theŠ $ t Šmembers€of€the€judiciary,€but€the€Constitution€of€Mauritius€contained€its€own€detailed€rulesŠ  ` Šconcerning€due€process€in€section€10.€€The€right€to€claim€damages€had€always€existed€underŠ ü L  ŠMauritian€law€and€the€countryššs€Civil€Code€made€satisfactory€provision€for€remedy€in€suchŠ č 8  Šcircumstances.€€The€Official€Secret€Act,€which€had€been€enacted€to€protect€cabinet€documents,Š Ō$  Šsought€not€to€upset€the€established€rule€concerning€the€burden€of€proof€but€merely€to€provide€that,Š Ą  Šif€a€document€had€been€published€with€lawful€€authorization,€that€fact€should€be€established€by€theŠ ¬ü  Špublisher.€€Requiring€the€publisher€to€furnish€proof€of€authorization€was€a€requirement€that€did€notŠ ˜č  Šcontravene€the€presumption€of€innocence€or€the€Covenantššs€provisions.Š „Ō  ŠĢņņFreedom€of€movement€and€expulsion€of€aliensóóŠ \¬ ŠĢ521.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€anyŠ 4„ Šrestrictions€on€the€freedom€of€movement€or€residence€of€aliens€had€been€adopted€pursuant€to€sectionŠ  p Š15€(3)€(d)€of€the€Constitution;€whether€appeals€against€deportation€orders€had€suspensive€effect;€andŠ  \ Šwhether€the€permissible€restrictions€under€Mauritian€law,€š šcomplying€with€norms€that€wereŠ ųH Šreasonably€justifiable€in€a€democratic€societyšš€were€the€same€as€those€permitted€under€the€Covenant.Š ä4 ŠĢ522.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€declared€that€there€were€no€restrictions€on€theŠ ¼  Šfreedom€of€movement€or€residence€of€aliens€in€Mauritius.€€Appeals€against€deportation€orders€didŠ Øų Šnot€have€suspensive€effect€but,€in€practice,€the€person€against€whom€the€order€had€been€made€wasŠ ”ä Šusually€allowed€to€stay€in€the€country€pending€a€decision.€€If€the€authorities€decided€to€enforce€theŠ €Š Šorder,€the€person€could€request€a€court€injunction€to€prevent€the€expulsion€from€being€carried€outŠ l¼ Šbefore€the€hearing€had€been€concluded.€€The€phrase€in€paragraph€27€of€the€report€and€the€one€inŠ X Ø Šarticle€12€of€the€Covenant€carried€the€same€implications.Š D!” ŠĢņņRight€to€privacyóóŠ #l! ŠĢ523.€€With€reference€to€that€issue,€members€of€the€Committee€requested€additional€information€onŠ ō$D # Šarticle€17,€in€accordance€with€the€Committeeššs€general€comment€No.€16€(32);€and€concerning€theŠ ą%0!$ Šlaw€and€practice€relating€to€permissible€interference€with€the€right€to€privacy€and€to€the€collectionŠ Ģ&"% Šand€safeguarding€of€personal€data.Š ø'#& ŠĢ524.€€Responding€to€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateŠ )ą$( Šparty€pointed€out€that€interference€with€privacy€by€the€State€was€permissible€in€criminalŠ |*Ģ%) Šinvestigations€provided€that€a€court€order€had€been€obtained€on€the€basis€of€information€given€underŠ h+ø&* Šoath.€€Interference€by€private€€persons€was€governed€by€the€Civil€Code.€€There€had€so€far€been€noŠ T,¤'+ Šneed€for€legislation€concerning€personal€data€in€Mauritius€since€no€private€or€public€institutionŠ @-(, Šsystematically€collected€such€data€except€in€the€field€of€taxation,€electoral€law€and€pension€rights.Š ° ŠĢņņFreedom€of€religion€and€expression;€prohibition€of€propaganda€for€war€and€advocacy€of€national,Š ˆŲ Šracial€or€religious€hatredóóŠ tÄ ŠĢ525.€€In€this€connection,€members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€further€information€concerning€theŠ L œ Šlimitations€on€freedom€of€the€press€and€the€media€permitted€by€law.€€They€wondered€whetherŠ 8 ˆ Špropaganda€for€war€was€prohibited€by€law,€in€conformity€with€article€20,€paragraph€1,€of€theŠ $ t ŠCovenant.Š  ` ŠĢ526.€€They€also€asked€why€the€drafters€of€the€new€1985€law€had€found€it€necessary€to€add€the€offenceŠ č 8  Šof€contempt€of€the€Government€to€the€current€Criminal€Code,€when€the€offence€of€slander€wasŠ Ō$  Šalready€provided€for,€whether€legal€proceedings€had€been€instituted€in€application€of€that€law€andŠ Ą  Šwhy€it€had€been€felt€necessary€to€add€the€offence€of€publication€of€š šfalse€reportsšš€to€the€CriminalŠ ¬ü  ŠCode.€€In€the€opinion€of€members€of€the€Committee,€there€was€a€problem€of€compatibility€withŠ ˜č  Šarticle€19€of€the€Covenant€and,€in€that€connection€clarifications€were€requested€on€the€1970€Act,€inŠ „Ō  Šparticular€the€rights€and€remedies€available€to€the€accused€and€who€decided€whether€certain€newsŠ pĄ Šwas€seditious.€€Members€also€noted€that€article€12€of€the€Mauritian€Constitution€did€not€provide€forŠ \¬ Šfreedom€to€š šseek,€receive€and€impart€information€and€ideasšš€as€stated€in€article€19,€paragraph€2,€ofŠ H˜ Šthe€Covenant.€€They€asked€whether€there€were€legislative€provisions€in€that€area€and,€in€particular,Š 4„ Što€what€extent€journalists€were€able€to€obtain€information€from€the€authorities€or€have€access€toŠ  p Šofficial€files,€whether€radio€stations€in€Mauritius€broadcast€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€in€several€languages€andŠ  \ Šhow€air€time€was€divided€among€the€various€language€groups.€€Some€members€of€the€CommitteeŠ ųH Šasked€for€clarifications€of€the€expression€š šexcept€with€his€consentšš€in€article€12€of€MauritianŠ ä4 ŠConstitution€and€on€the€compatibility€of€article€296€of€the€Criminal€Code€with€the€correspondingŠ Š  Šprovisions€of€the€Covenant.€€Some€members€of€the€Committee€also€asked€whether€the€State€providedŠ ¼  Šsubsidies€to€the€various€religious€denominations€or€associations€for€their€schools.Š Øų ŠĢ527.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party,€replying€to€the€questions€raised€by€members€of€theŠ €Š ŠCommittee,€stated€that€freedom€of€the€press€was€guaranteed€in€his€country€and€that€the€CommitteeŠ l¼ Šneed€not€be€concerned€by€certain€legislative€provisions€that€had€been€adopted€in€that€area.€Š X Ø ŠConcerning€the€publication€of€š šfalse€reportsšš,€he€explained€that€the€false€nature€of€published€reportsŠ D!” Šdid€not€in€itself€lead€to€a€conviction€if€there€had€been€no€criminal€intent.€€He€said€that€the€1985€lawŠ 0"€  Šand€article€296€of€the€Criminal€Code,€which€certain€members€of€the€Committee€had€found€undulyŠ #l! Šrepressive,€had€never€been€used€as€a€basis€for€legal€prosecutions.€€In€the€opinion€of€the€GovernmentŠ $X" Šof€Mauritius,€freedom€of€the€press€did€not€mean€freedom€to€publish€false€or€distorted€information.€Š ō$D # ŠHowever,€it€did€include€the€right€to€criticize€the€Government,€its€policy€or€positions,€and€that€rightŠ ą%0!$ Šwas€in€no€way€suppressed.€The€omission€of€the€words€š što€seekšš€information€from€article€12€of€theŠ Ģ&"% ŠConstitution€by€no€means€meant€that€freedom€of€expression€and€information€was€limited€inŠ ø'#& ŠMauritius.€€In€his€opinion,€the€freedom€to€š šreceive€and€impartšš€information€set€forth€in€article€12€ofŠ ¤(ō#' Šthe€Constitution€included€the€freedom€to€seek€information€and,€on€that€basis,€the€inability€to€exerciseŠ )ą$( Šthat€right€could€be€considered€by€the€courts€as€a€violation€of€the€provisions€of€the€Constitution.€Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ528.€€Concerning€subsidies€to€educational€establishments,€he€said€that€there€was€no€discriminationŠ T,¤'+ Šand€that€all€establishments€were€subsidized€sufficiently€to€pay€their€staff€and€to€ensure€their€properŠ @-(, Šoperation.€€Concerning€the€reference€to€air€time,€he€pointed€out€that€it€was€quite€difficult€to€divideŠ ° Šit€equally€among€all€the€language€groups,€since€Mauritius€had€only€one€radio€station€for€a€trilingualŠ œģ Špopulation.€€However,€efforts€were€made€to€distribute€the€Ō_ŌprogrammesŌ_Ō€among€the€different€languagesŠ ˆŲ Šequitably.€€The€problem€of€propaganda€for€war€had€never€arisen€and€the€law€made€no€provision€inŠ tÄ Šthat€regard.€€However,€the€implementation€of€other€legal€provisions€prohibiting€the€advocacy€ofŠ `° Šinsurrection€or€violence€could€have€the€same€result€as€a€specific€law.€€Concerning€theŠ L œ Šimplementation€of€the€articles€of€the€Public€Order€Act,€which€provided€for€the€closure€of€printingŠ 8 ˆ Šhouses,€he€said€that€his€Government€would€provide€the€Committee€with€detailed€information€in€aŠ $ t Šwritten€note.Š  ` ŠĢņņFreedom€of€assembly€and€associationóóŠ č 8  ŠĢ529.€€Members€of€the€Committee€requested€information€on€the€number€and€composition€of€tradeŠ Ą  Šunions€in€Mauritius;€on€legislation€and€practice€with€regard€to€the€right€of€peaceful€assembly;€andŠ ¬ü  Šon€the€conditions€restricting€the€right€to€strike€contained€in€the€Industrial€Relations€Act€of€1973.Š ˜č  ŠĢ530.€€Replying€to€the€questions€raised€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateŠ pĄ Šparty€said€that€the€establishment€and€operation€of€trade€unions€were€governed€by€the€IndustrialŠ \¬ ŠRelations€Act.€€As€at€31€December€1987,€Mauritius€had€313€trade€unions,€of€which€10€wereŠ H˜ Šfederations;€that€number€had€now€risen€to€331.€€The€conditions€for€joining€a€union€were€alsoŠ 4„ Šgoverned€by€that€Act,€which€provided€for€complete€freedom€in€that€area.€€Concerning€the€right€ofŠ  p Špeaceful€assembly,€he€informed€the€Committee€that€the€competent€authorities€were€the€courts,€in€theŠ  \ Šfirst€instance,€followed€by€the€permanent€arbitration€court.€€The€Commissioner€of€Police€had€to€beŠ ųH Šinformed€before€a€public€meeting€was€held;€if€he€refused€authorization,€it€was€possible€to€apply€toŠ ä4 Ša€court.€€The€purpose€of€the€restrictions€as€far€as€strikes€were€concerned€was€to€provide€for€a€coolingŠ Š  Šoff€period.€€If€those€procedures€failed,€a€strike€notice€had€to€be€submitted€to€the€Minister€for€Ō_ŌLabourŌ_Ō.€Š ¼  ŠThe€only€recent€example€of€a€strike€had€been€a€major€strike€of€the€entire€civil€service€at€the€beginningŠ Øų Šof€June€1989.Š ”ä ŠĢņņProtection€of€the€family€and€of€childrenóóŠ l¼ ŠĢ531.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€for€further€information€on€the€activities€of€the€Ministry€ofŠ D!” ŠWomenššs€Rights€and€Family€Welfare€and€on€the€activities€of€the€National€Adoption€Council€sinceŠ 0"€  Šits€establishment€in€1987,€in€particular,€whether€the€Council€had€been€able€to€eliminate€abuses€in€theŠ #l! Šadoption€of€Mauritian€children€by€foreigners.€€They€asked€whether€a€mother€of€Mauritian€nationalityŠ $X" Šcould€transmit€the€nationality€to€her€child€born€outside€Mauritian€territory,€as€provided€by€article€23Š ō$D # Šof€the€Constitution€in€the€case€of€the€father.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ532.€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€asked€whether€the€lack€of€distinction€between€legitimate€andŠ ø'#& Šnatural€children€also€extended€to€children€born€of€adultery€and,€if€so,€what€possibility€the€parents€hadŠ ¤(ō#' Šof€legitimizing€them,€and€whether€natural€children€and€children€born€of€adultery€had€the€same€rightsŠ )ą$( Šas€legitimate€children€with€regard€to€inheritance.€€With€reference€to€the€serious€problem€of€childrenŠ |*Ģ%) Štaken€out€of€a€country€illegally,€they€asked€whether€the€National€Adoption€Council€was€alsoŠ h+ø&* Šempowered€to€inquire€into€that€type€of€illegal€practice,€whether€cases€of€that€nature€had€been€broughtŠ T,¤'+ Šbefore€the€courts€in€Mauritius€and,€if€so,€what€sentences€had€been€handed€down€against€nationals€andŠ @-(, Šforeigners.€€Was€corporal€punishment€Ō_ŌpractisedŌ_Ō€in€the€schools€and,€if€so,€in€what€form?Š ° Šą  ąą ` ąĢ533.€€Replying€to€the€questions€asked€by€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€the€StateŠ ˆŲ Šparty€said€that€the€Ministry€of€Womenššs€Rights€and€Family€Welfare,€in€particular,€made€availableŠ tÄ Što€the€public€the€services€of€lawyers,€doctors,€psychologists€and€nutritionists.€€An€amendment€to€theŠ `° ŠCivil€Code€that€entered€into€force€in€1982€had€abolished€the€distinction€between€legitimate€andŠ L œ Šnatural€children,€but€that€did€not€apply€to€children€born€of€adultery.€€The€National€Adoption€CouncilŠ 8 ˆ Šhad€begun€its€functions€in€1988.€€In€that€year,€there€had€been€69€adoption€requests,€of€which€62€hadŠ $ t Šbeen€approved.€€The€Council€was€empowered€to€inquire€into€the€activities€of€certain€organizationsŠ  ` Šthat€obtained€children€for€foreigners.€€In€a€number€of€cases,€facts€had€been€brought€to€the€attentionŠ ü L  Šof€the€police.€€He€explained€that,€under€articles€23€and€27€of€the€Constitution,€a€mother€of€MauritianŠ č 8  Šnationality€could€not€transmit€the€nationality€to€her€child€born€outside€Mauritian€territory.€€CorporalŠ Ō$  Špunishment€was€not€authorized€in€Mauritian€schools.Š Ą  ŠĢņņRight€to€take€part€in€the€conduct€of€public€affairsóóŠ ˜č  ŠĢ534.€€Members€of€the€Committee€asked€to€be€supplied€with€statistical€data€concerning€the€proportionŠ pĄ Šof€women€and€minorities€elected€to€office€and€in€public€service.Š \¬ ŠĢ535.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€replied€that€there€were€more€women€than€men€in€hisŠ 4„ Šcountryššs€public€service.€€There€were€currently€three€women€in€Parliament,€one€of€whom,€a€Hindu,Š  p Šwas€also€the€Minister€for€Ō_ŌLabourŌ_Ō;€there€were€no€statistics€regarding€minorities.€€Mauritius€might€beŠ  \ Šdescribed€as€a€nation€of€minorities,€since€there€were€about€30€or€so€of€them,€and€it€could€not€be€saidŠ ųH Šthat€any€one€dominated€the€others.€€For€electoral€purposes,€for€reasons€of€convenience,€they€wereŠ ä4 Šdivided€into€four€major€categories:€persons€of€Indian,€African€and€Chinese€descent€and€Muslims.€Š Š  ŠNo€problems€arose€concerning€participation€of€members€of€minorities€in€public€service.Š ¼  ŠĢņņRights€of€minoritiesóó€Š ”ä ŠĢ536.€€In€this€connection,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€whether€there€were€particularŠ l¼ Šdifficulties€and€factors€that€might€affect€the€enjoyment€by€minorities€of€their€rights€under€theŠ X Ø ŠCovenant€and,€if€so,€what€measures€had€been€taken€to€remedy€them.€€Noting€with€satisfaction€thatŠ D!” Šminoritiesšš€rights€appeared€to€be€well€protected€in€Mauritius,€some€members€asked€whether€that€wasŠ 0"€  Šsimply€so€in€practice€or€whether€there€were€special€legal€provisions€to€that€effect.Š #l! ŠĢ537.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€replied€that,€in€his€country,€no€law€conferred€a€particularŠ ō$D # Šright€on€any€special€community.€€The€law€simply€permitted€all€individuals€to€enjoy€their€rights€in€anyŠ ą%0!$ Šway€they€pleased.€€All€communities€genuinely€enjoyed€the€rights€granted€to€them.€€That€situation€wasŠ Ģ&"% Šreinforced€by€the€existence€of€the€French,€African€and€Chinese€Cultural€Ō_ŌCentresŌ_Ō€and€the€MahatmaŠ ø'#& ŠGandhi€Cultural€Ō_ŌCentreŌ_Ō.€€There€was€no€law€prohibiting€any€particular€community€from€enjoying€allŠ ¤(ō#' Šits€cultural€rights€and€expressing€itself,€in€music,€in€song,€or€in€prayer.€€If€the€Government€ofŠ )ą$( ŠMauritius€had€more€means€at€its€disposal,€it€would€provide€for€even€greater€enjoyment€of€thoseŠ |*Ģ%) Šrights.Š h+ø&* ŠĢņņGeneral€observationsóóŠ @-(, Š‡538.€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€satisfaction€and€thanked€the€representative€ofŠ ° ŠMauritius,€noting€that€his€replies€to€the€Committeeššs€questions€had€been€frank€and€full€and€that€theŠ œģ Šdialogue€between€the€Committee€and€the€Mauritian€delegation€had€been€fruitful.€€While€regardingŠ ˆŲ Šthe€human€rights€situation€in€Mauritius€as€satisfactory,€they€expressed€concern€with€respect€to€someŠ tÄ Šprovisions€in€current€Mauritian€€legislation,€especially€regarding€the€death€penalty€and€the€fairnessŠ `° Šof€proceedings€in€that€area;€freedom€of€expression€and€freedom€of€the€press;€non„discrimination€inŠ L œ Šconnection€with€article€16€of€the€Mauritian€Constitution;€the€presumption€of€innocence€in€the€contextŠ 8 ˆ Šof€the€Official€Secrets€Act;€trade„union€freedoms;€and€the€treatment€of€children€born€of€adultery.Š $ t ŠĢ539.€€The€representative€of€the€State€party€assured€the€Committee€that€the€Government€of€MauritiusŠ ü L  Šwas€resolved€to€respect€both€the€spirit€of€the€Covenant€and€the€Constitution€of€the€country.Š č 8  ŠĢ540.€€Concluding€the€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€Mauritius,€the€Chairman€againŠ Ą  Šthanked€the€Mauritian€delegation€for€the€constructive€manner€in€which€it€had€conducted€its€dialogueŠ ¬ü  Šwith€the€Committee.€€He€believed€that€the€delegation€had€been€able€to€form€a€clear€idea€of€what€theŠ ˜č  Šmembers€of€the€Committee€thought€of€the€human€rights€situation€in€Mauritius€and€to€consider€theirŠ „Ō  Šarguments,€and€that€it€would€now€be€able€to€transmit€the€Committeeššs€observations€to€theŠ pĄ ŠGovernment€of€Mauritius.Š \¬ ŠŠ  H˜ Šņ ņŌ_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō€€A/51/40€Ō_Ō(1996)ó óŌ_ŌŠ ° ŠĢĢ136.€€The€Committee€considered€the€third€periodic€report€of€the€Republic€of€MauritiusŠ tÄ Š(Ō_ŌCCPRŌ_Ō/C/64/Add.12€and€Ō_ŌHRIŌ_Ō/CORE/1/Add.60)€at€its€1476ņņthóó€to€1478ņņthóó€meetings€(fifty-fifth€session),Š `° Šon€19€and€20€March€1996,€and€at€its€1497ņņthóó€meeting,€on€2€April€1996,€adopted€the€followingŠ L œ Šcomments.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ1.€€ņņIntroductionņņóóóóŠ  ` ŠĢ137.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€third€periodic€report€presented€by€Mauritius€and€expresses€itsŠ č 8  Šappreciation€to€the€State€party€for€the€additional€information€submitted€orally€and€in€writing€by€aŠ Ō$  Šhigh-level€delegation€during€the€consideration€of€the€report.€The€Committee€regrets,€however,€thatŠ Ą  Šthe€report€was€long€overdue.€The€valuable€supplementary€information€provided€by€the€delegation,Š ¬ü  Šboth€oral€and€written,€provided€a€sound€basis€for€a€frank€and€fruitful€dialogue€between€theŠ ˜č  ŠCommittee€and€the€State€party.Š „Ō  ŠĢ2.€€ņņFactors€and€difficulties€affecting€the€implementation€of€the€CovenantóóŠ \¬ ŠĢ138.€€The€Committee€finds€no€significant€factors€or€difficulties€that€would€prevent€the€effectiveŠ 4„ Šimplementation€of€the€Covenant€in€Mauritius.Š  p ŠĢ3.€€ņņPositive€aspectsó󀀀€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Š ųH ŠĢ139.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€harmonious€coexistence€of€the€multi-ethnic€population€ofŠ Š  ŠMauritius€and€its€atmosphere€of€tolerance€strengthen€the€ability€of€Mauritius€to€live€up€to€itsŠ ¼  Šobligations€under€the€Covenant.Š Øų ŠĢ140.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€appreciation€for€the€adoption€of€the€Abolition€of€the€DeathŠ €Š ŠPenalty€Act€1995,€which€came€into€force€in€December€1995€and€provides€for€the€imposition€of€aŠ l¼ Šsentence€of€life€imprisonment€in€place€of€the€death€penalty.Š X Ø ŠĢ141.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€amendment€to€section€16€of€the€Constitution€by€the€enactmentŠ 0"€  Šof€the€Constitution€of€Mauritius€(Amendment)€Act€1995,€which€adds€gender€to€the€grounds€on€whichŠ #l! Šdiscrimination€by€laws€or€by€public€authorities€is€prohibited.€The€amendment€to€the€MauritiusŠ $X" ŠCitizenship€Act€1968,€removing€discrimination€on€grounds€of€gender,€the€proposed€bill€on€domesticŠ ō$D # Šviolence€and€the€full€recognition€of€the€equal€rights€of€children€born€in€and€out€of€wedlock€are€alsoŠ ą%0!$ Šwelcomed.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ142.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€large-scale€legislative€reform€that€is€being€contemplated€withŠ ¤(ō#' Ša€view,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€to€shortening€the€length€of€court€proceedings€and€to€reconsidering€the€system€ofŠ )ą$( Šlegal€aid.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ143.€€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€promulgation€in€1994€of€the€Child€Protection€Act.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š144.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€establishment€of€a€human€rights€unit€by€the€Attorney-GeneralŠ ° Šwith€a€view,€ņņinter€aliaóó,€to€undertaking€the€preparation€of€the€reports€of€Mauritius€to€the€variousŠ œģ ŠUnited€Nations€human€rights€treaty€bodies.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ145.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€initiatives€of€Mauritius€to€establish€an€Indian€Ocean€humanŠ `° Šrights€institute.Š L œ ŠĢ146.€€The€announcement€concerning€the€proposed€establishment€of€an€independent€police€complaintsŠ $ t Šboard€is€welcomed.Š  ` ŠĢ147.€€The€Committee€also€welcomes€the€intention€of€the€Government€to€set€up€an€independentŠ č 8  Šbroadcasting€authority.Š Ō$  ŠĢ4.€€ņņPrincipal€subjects€of€concernóóŠ ¬ü  ŠĢ148.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€non-incorporation€into€domestic€law€of€all€the€rightsŠ „Ō  Šguaranteed€in€the€Covenant€and€the€existence€of€non-permissible€limitations€affect€the€fullŠ pĄ Šimplementation€of€the€Covenant€in€Mauritius€and€that,€accordingly,€the€legal€system€of€MauritiusŠ \¬ Šdoes€not€ensure€effective€remedies€in€all€cases€of€violations€of€rights€guaranteed€in€the€Covenant.Š H˜ ŠĢ149.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€excepting€personal€laws€and€foreigners€from€the€prohibitionŠ  p Šof€discrimination€-€as€set€forth€in€section€16€of€the€Constitution€-€results€in€a€violation€of€article€26Š  \ Šof€the€Covenant.Š ųH ŠĢ150.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€problem€of€domestic€violence€has€not€yet€been€theŠ Š  Šobject€of€appropriate€measures.Š ¼  ŠĢ151.€€The€Committee€expresses€its€concern€over€the€provisions€in€the€so€far€non-implementedŠ ”ä ŠDangerous€Drugs€Act€1995€under€which€an€arrested€person€may€be€held€incommunicado€at€theŠ €Š Šdiscretion€of€a€police€officer.Š l¼ ŠĢ152.€€The€Committee€notes€with€concern€that€the€powers€of€detention€provided€for€in€sections€5€(1)Š D!” Š(k)€and€5€(4)€of€the€Constitution€are€incompatible€with€article€9,€paragraphs€3€and€4,€of€the€Covenant.Š 0"€  ŠĢ153.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€the€legislation€of€Mauritius€has€not€yet€been€brought€into€lineŠ $X" Šwith€article€11€of€the€Covenant.Š ō$D # ŠĢ154.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€at€the€extent€of€de€facto€limitation€on€freedom€of€expression,€asŠ Ģ&"% Šexemplified€by€the€banning€of€two€recent€literary€works€without€legal€measures€having€been€takenŠ ø'#& Što€that€effect,€and€at€penal€offences€relating€to€libel€and€the€dissemination€of€false€news.€Extra-legalŠ ¤(ō#' Šrestrictions€on€freedom€of€expression€are€not€compatible€with€the€Covenant.Š )ą$( ŠĢ155.€€The€Committee€takes€note€with€concern€of€the€requirement€that€prior€notification€be€madeŠ h+ø&* Šseven€days€before€any€public€meeting€is€held€in€order€to€obtain€permission€from€the€CommissionerŠ T,¤'+ Šof€Police.Š @-(, Š‡156.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€difficulties€faced€by€those€working€in€export€processingŠ ° Šzones€in€the€enjoyment€of€their€rights€under€article€22€of€the€Covenant.Š œģ ŠĢ5.€€ņņSuggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ tÄ ŠĢ157.€€The€Committee€emphasizes€the€need€for€legal€machinery€enabling€individuals€to€enforce€allŠ L œ Šthe€rights€enshrined€in€the€Covenant€before€domestic€courts.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ158.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€all€grounds€on€which€discrimination€is€prohibited,€asŠ  ` Šidentified€in€articles€2€and€26€of€the€Covenant,€be€incorporated€in€the€relevant€non-discriminationŠ ü L  Šprovisions€of€the€Constitution€and€that€the€provisions€be€extended€to€cover€aliens.€It€furtherŠ č 8  Šrecommends€that€section€16€(2)€and€16€(4)€(c)€of€the€Constitution€be€amended€to€make€themŠ Ō$  Šcompatible€with€article€2,€paragraph€1,€and€articles€3€and€26€of€the€Covenant€and€that€steps€be€takenŠ Ą  Što€introduce€comprehensive€anti-discrimination€laws€to€cover€all€spheres,€public€or€private,€protectedŠ ¬ü  Šby€the€Covenant.€It€is€also€recommended€that€the€proposed€equal€opportunity€commission€considerŠ ˜č  Šwhether€affirmative€action€measures,€including€educational€measures,€are€necessary€to€overcomeŠ „Ō  Šremaining€obstacles€to€equality,€such€as€outdated€attitudes€concerning€the€role€and€status€of€women.Š pĄ ŠĢ159.€€Following€the€abolition€of€the€death€penalty,€it€is€recommended€that€Mauritius€considerŠ H˜ Šratification€of€the€Second€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Covenant.€Š 4„ ŠĢ160.€€The€Committee€expresses€the€hope€that€the€envisaged€independent€police€complaints€board€willŠ  \ Šbe€established€as€soon€as€possible€and€that€provisions€are€included€in€the€law€to€ensure€that€the€boardŠ ųH Šwill€enjoy€the€powers€and€receive€the€resources€to€enable€it€to€investigate€allegations€of€abuse€byŠ ä4 Šmembers€of€the€police.Š Š  ŠĢ161.€€The€Committee€stresses€the€need€to€establish€a€mechanism€to€provide€legal€aid€for€appeals€toŠ Øų Šthe€Privy€Council.Š ”ä ŠĢ162.€€The€Committee€recommends€reconsideration€of€the€legislation€on€the€publication€of€false€news.Š l¼ ŠIf€the€State€party€considers€it€necessary€to€allow€for€some€restrictions€on€publications€and€showingŠ X Ø Šof€films,€legislation€should€be€introduced€establishing€criteria€consistent€with€article€19,€paragraphŠ D!” Š3,€of€the€Covenant€and€providing€for€judicial€review€of€all€decisions€to€restrict€the€exercise€ofŠ 0"€  Šfreedom€of€expression.€The€Committee€expresses€the€hope€that€the€envisaged€independentŠ #l! Šbroadcasting€authority€will€be€established€as€soon€as€possible.€It€suggests€the€establishment€of€aŠ $X" Šmechanism€that€would€allow€for€a€press€code€of€ethics.Š ō$D # ŠĢ163.€€The€Committee€suggests€that€consideration€be€given€to€ensuring€that€restrictions€do€not€exceedŠ Ģ&"% Šwhat€is€necessary€in€a€democratic€society,€in€conformity€with€article€21€of€the€Covenant.Š ø'#& ŠĢ164.€€The€Committee€expresses€the€hope€that,€as€part€of€the€planned€review€of€industrial€legislation,Š )ą$( Šthe€Government€will€consider€whether€to€ensure€their€full€enjoyment€of€the€rights€guaranteed€byŠ |*Ģ%) Šarticle€22€of€the€Covenant.Š h+ø&* ŠĢ165.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€appropriate€steps€be€taken€to€ensure€that€the€inhabitants€ofŠ @-(, Šthe€islands€of€Ō_ŌAgalegaŌ_Ō€and€St.€Brandon€are€able€to€exercise€their€right€to€vote,€as€required€by€articleŠ ° Š25€of€the€Covenant.Š œģ ŠĢ166.€€Lastly,€the€Committee€suggests€that€steps€be€taken€to€disseminate€in€all€languages€spoken€inŠ tÄ ŠMauritius€information€about€the€Covenant€and€about€the€report€and€the€proceedings€before€theŠ `° ŠCommittee.€It€also€suggests€that€steps€be€taken€to€publish€educational€material,€particularly€forŠ L œ Šchildren,€in€the€most€used€vernacular€languages.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢĢ