🇲🇺MauritiusEast Africa
Collectif Arc-En-Ciel launches legal clinic to support LGBTQ+ rights in Mauritius
via Le Mauricien3 min read
The Collectif Arc-En-Ciel CAEC has launched a legal clinic to provide legal support for individuals facing discrimination and violence in Mauritius. This initiative, announced at the Institut français de Maurice IFM in Rose-Hill, comes after the 2023 Supreme Court decision to invalidate Article 250 of the Penal Code, which criminalized same-sex relations. Despite this legal advancement, discriminatory attitudes, violence, and unequal treatment persist, leaving many without clear recourse or adequate support. Dimitry Ah Yu, president of CAEC, stated that the legal clinic is a "lifeline" given the ongoing reality of violence and injustice. The clinic, a partnership between CAEC and the law firm Dentons Mauritius LLP, will offer free, confidential, and accessible legal assistance to LGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The service aims to strengthen access to justice, raise legal awareness within the LGBTQ+ community, document challenges, and identify long-term strategic actions. Priscilla Balgobin-Bhoyrul, Senior Counsel and Senior Partner at Dentons Mauritius, emphasized that the clinic seeks to restore confidence in the legal system, clarify rights, and empower individuals to make informed decisions. Najah A. Ahmed, Deputy Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission NHRC, highlighted that the clinic aims to bridge the gap between legal rights on paper and their practical application. The clinic, which w
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
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