|  PLANNING & RESEARCH UNIT
 Background
The Planning and Research Unit (PRU) was set up to acts as a co-ordination and support unit which provides technical back up to all the units and parastatal bodies operating under the Ministry in the designing of policies, programmes, and projects. It is also responsible for the preparation of short, medium and long term plans of action and reports on issues relating to women, child development, family welfare and community development. Aims and Objectives
To prepare short, medium and long term plans of action and reports in areas of women, child development, family welfare and community development and to advise on policies.
To monitor and evaluate programmes, projects and schemes aimed at the development of women, children and the community at large.
To establish base line data on women, family and children in the fields of health, education, employment etc.
To liaise with Government institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations for the elaboration, implementation and monitoring of schemes, programmes and projects in areas of women, family welfare, child development and community development.
To integrate gender as a central concept in policy and programme formulation.
To ensure the integration of women through the preparation of a plan of action.
To carry out regular situation analysis on women, children and family in the various sectors and propose corrective action programmes.
To initiate and carry out regular studies research for the promotion of social/cultural development, and situation analysis on the children, family and women.
To design social policy aiming at promoting the development and well-being of women, families and children.
To carry out evaluation of projects.
Projects handled by the PRU at present are categorised in two main groups namely:-  Multilateral projects Capital projects MULTILATERAL PROJECTS  United Nations Fund for Children (UNICEF) Observatory on the Rights of the child
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Gender Equality and Empowerment of women. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Strengthening sexual and reproductive health for young people and
undeserved women and men. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Community Development Programme. Micro-Enterprise- Micro Credit. UNESCO
Parental Empowerment Programme CAPITAL PROJECTS Construction of a Multipurpose Complex for women at Phoenix. Construction of a Creativity Centre at Pointe aux Sables.
Construction of 2 Integrated services centre for Women & Family at
Notre Dameand Camp Levieux. Construction of a Mini Multipurpose complex for Bel Ombre/St.Felix Integrated Projects. Construction of a women centre at cite Florida - Baie du Tombeau Upgrading works at Creativity Centre at Mahebourg.
Research works, Statistics, Publications and Papers worked out by the Unit
| Women in Figures | 1989 - 95 | | Women in Mauritius - An analysis based on the results of the 1990 Housing and Population Census
| January 93 | | Study on Sources of Conflict within the Mauritian Family
| May 94 | | National Programme of Action for the Survival, Development and Protection of Children
| June 94 | | Survey on the Mauritian Family
| December 94 | | Towards the Preparation of a National Action Programme for building the Smallest Democracy at the Heart of Society
| 1994 | | ECD in Mauritius - Policy & Programming for 0 - 3 in Africa -Cape Town
| December 97 | | The Girl Child - Report & Action Plan
| June 98 | | Report on Survey on Domestic Violence in Mauritius
| 1998 | | National Early Childhood Development (0 - 3 yrs) Policy
Paper
| June 1998 | | Report on 3-Day Workshop on Model Framework for an Integrated Approach to combat Violence against Women and the Girl Child
| March 99 | | Early Childhood Development Implementation Plan- Cost and Financing
| May 99 | | A Statistical Profile on Women in the Republic of Mauritius
| June 96-2000 | | A Statistical Profile on Children in the Republic of Mauritius
| June 96- 99 | | National Programme of Action Phase II for the Development and the Protection of Children
| June 99 | | National Plan of Action on Protection of Children Against CSEC (2003-2004)
| Jan 2003 | | National Children's Policy - " A Republic Fit For Children" Plan of Action | May 2003
March 2004 | Statistics in Mauritius- A Gender Perspective
| August 2003 | | Bilan Magazine( Sept 2000-Sept 2003 ) | October 2003 | | CRC Report | October 2004 | | CEDAW Report | October 2004 | | African Charter On The Rights of The Child | Under Preparation | | Statistics in Mauritius - A Gender Approach | September 2005 |
Summary of findings
Demographic data indicate that as at June 2002 The female population stood at 610,939, representing 50.5% of the total
population of 1,210,196. In terms of ratio, there were around 98 males for
every 100 females. Among the elderly (population aged 60 years & over) the sex ratio was 76 men
for every 100 women. According to the 2000 Population Census Life expectancy at birth was 75.3 years for females and 68.2 years for males. 60% of women aged 15 and above were married or in a union. This proportion
was the same for men. One tenth of teenage girls were married or in a union. Only 9% among females were heads of households. 14% of the female population aged 1 years and over had no education or
only some education at pre-primary level. Data from other sources indicate that
30% of female population aged 12 years and over were employed in 2001. 48% of working women were engaged in the 'Agriculture' and 'Manufacturing'
sectors. 56% of working women were reported as being employed as 'craft workers,
plant and machine operators' and in 'elementary occupations'. 60% of the employed females were drawing a monthly income not exceeding
Rs.4,000 in 2001. On average, girls and women aged 12 years and above spent 30 hours per
week on unpaid housework compared to 8 hours by boys and men. One of two babies (having working mothers) was left to the care of grand
parents when mother was at work.
In 2002 16,500 women and 48,800 men were employed in the government
service. In 2002 there were 1,230 cases reported by women at the Domestic Violence
Intervention Unit compared to only 47 by men. Females accounted for almost three fourths of the total number of cases
registered at the Family Counselling Service in 2002. In 2002 nearly one of two complaints reported at the Child Development Unit
concerned boys. | 
