Family Welfare Unit

In line with one of the UN recommendations that States should set up appropriate mechanisms to implement policies and programmes in favour of families, the Ministry has set up a Family Welfare Unit since July 2003.

   Objectives of Family Welfare Unit

          To implement appropriate policies and strategies to promote family welfare

          To adopt relevant strategies and implement actions to combat domestic violence.

  Family Support Bureaux

The Unit operates from the Ministry's Head Quarters and has a network of 6 Regional Offices known as Family Support Bureaux (FSBx).  A hot line is also operational on a 24 hour basis to cater for family related problems and Officers can be contacted at the FSBx on the following addresses  and  telephone numbers:

In addition to our six regional FSBx, six Police Family Protection Units (PFPU) manned by Women Police Constable are operational in the following regions to deal with cases of domestic violence:

	Abercrombie
	Piton
	Moka
	Rose Belle
	Rose Hill
	Eau-Coulée

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  Services

The following services are offered at the Family Support Bureaux in a holistic way with a view to minimize further trauma to victims of violence:

"Men as Partners" Programme
 

This project is a gender sensitive project that aims at promoting responsibility and participation of men within the family and the community so as to enable the effective empowerment of women and the enhancement of the quality of life of the family. This Programme was launched on 18 May 2003 at Pailles on a pilot basis in collaboration with the Mauritius Family Planning Association. The first phase of the "Men as Partners" Programme was implemented in 4 other regions namely Petite Rivière, Argy, Chamouny and Batterie Cassé.

The second phase of the project has been completed in the following four localities, namely - Rose Belle, Plaines des Roches, Trèfles and Goodlands.

The third phase of the project has been implemented at La Caverne, Vacoas, Grand River South East, Baie du Tombeau and it is nearing completion at Caroline.

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The main objectives of this project are :
 

	To organize monthly educational sessions on Gender, Women Development and Family Welfare for the male folk so as to increase their knowledge and provide information that will enable them to positively participate in family affairs and enhance partnership building at home, at work site and in the community.
	To organize monthly mixed educational sessions on problems affecting family welfare and the role of women in the family and the society at large.
	To organize fortnightly indoor games to entertain the male folks, and provide concurrently individual counseling and informal education sessions to men.
	To organize individual and group counseling sessions for couples on Gender sensitive family issues so as to improve psycho-social environment.
	To provide special medical sessions for the male folk so as to enable them share and improve their health conditions in confidentiality and also get informed about health condition.

  Zero Tolerance Clubs against domestic violence

Zero Tolerance Clubs have been set up in Abercrombie, Goodlands, Mare D'Albert and Pointe aux Sables. They comprise representatives of various Community Based Organisations with the view of involving the community to combat domestic violence.  Members of these clubs act as watchdogs to ensure that their respective localities are violence free. Groundwork is being done for setting up of a new club that would service the district of Plaine Wilhems.

   Pre-Marital Counselling Programme

The objective of the Pre-Marital counselling programme is to sensitize engaged couples for a more stable married life as well as to prepare them to cope with marital conflicts hence leading a healthy family life.

  Marriage Enrichment Programme

The objective of this programme is to strengthen and promote understanding and respect between couples. 
 

National Policy Paper on Family 

A National Policy Paper on Family, which encompasses strategies and actions for promoting family welfare, was launched on 15 May 2006. A Plan of Action is being prepared to implement major recommendations made in the policy paper for the family. 

A Steering Committee comprising of senior officers of the Ministry shall be set up to oversee the drafting of the Action Plan.

Partnership Against Domestic/Family Violence 

A 'Partnership Against Domestic/Family Violence Committee' has been set up to enlist the participation and collaboration of all stakeholders to combat and prevent domestic violence. Three projects have been submitted to this Ministry by the Central Prison's, MACOSS/Aryan Women's Association and Pills.

Central Prison: Setting up of a Family Counselling and Support Services Unit

MACOSS/Aryan Women’s Association: Sensitisation Programmes were conducted with couples and youth on imparting moral values

Pills: Activities were conducted with detainees and their families to combat sexual violence.


Oasis Association

Oasis Association provides opportunities for victims of domestic violence to meet as a group, share their experiences, conduct activities for self-help and welfare with a view to build self-confidence. This process is facilitated with the regular intervention of Psychologists through counselling and group therapy.

Over and above group therapy, additional activities (such as outdoor activities) are organized to promote positive thinking and attitudes aimed at rehabilitation of such victims.

Families in Distress Scheme

The Families in Distress Scheme provides for:

	One-off assistance to the tune of Rs 3000 to the parents / legal guardians for funeral expenses in the case of accidental death of a child
	One-off assistance to the tune of Rs 9000 to widows who have lost their husband in dramatic circumstances (e.g – murder, electrocution, drowning, shipwreck, riots etc)
	One-off assistance to the tune of Rs 9000 to widowers who have lost their spouses in dramatic circumstances (e.g – murder, electrocution, drowning, shipwreck, riots etc) provided that the deceased wife was contributing financially to the family income.

UNFPA Project

UNFPA (present in Mauritius from 1972 to 2003) has the mandate of promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) for the public at large. As from 2003 onwards, the Ministry of Health is the coordinating agency for UNFPA Projects.

Following a residential workshop organized by the Ministry of Health, a calendar of activities to be implemented under the UNFPA project has been worked out for the period 2005 - 2007.

Activities proposed:
 

	Group & individual counseling for teenage mothers
	Educational & counseling sessions for parents, teachers & co-workers
	Educational sessions for couples
	Sensitization campaigns on SRH
	Training programmes for officers on the problem of teenage pregnancy
	Training programme on the prevention & rehabilitation of children victims of sexual abuse etc

IEC (Information, Education and Communication) and Awareness Campaigns
 

Sustained IEC and awareness campaigns at National and community levels through the use of publications and the organization of seminars/workshop aimed at sensitizing different target groups namely Government Officials, NGOs as well as the public at large.

In February 2007, three IEC materials on Domestic Violence were launched namely:

	Briser le silence sur la Violence Domestique
	La Violence et les MauvaisTraitements sont des crimes
	Loves me… Loves me not… Loves me…

Copies of the IEC materials are available at the Documentation Unit of the Ministry.

Special events celebrated/commemorated by the Family Welfare Unit
 

Protocol of assistance to victims of Sexual Assault

A Protocol of Assistance to Victims of Sexual Assault is operational at the Ministry since March 2006. Its purpose is to ensure a prompt and timely assistance to victims of sexual assault.

The Protocol defines the role and responsibilities of all the stakeholders concerned, namely – Ministry of Women’s Rights, CD, FW & CP; the Ministry of Health and QL and the Police Department.

It ensures a coordinated approach of all authorities concerned with such cases.

With the application of the Protocol, victims may now call either at the Police Station (to give gist of case) of the region where the incident took place or directly to any of the 5 regional hospitals (Dr. Jeetoo, SSRN, Victoria, Flacq & J. Nehru). Victims who report case at the Police Station are conveyed by the Police to the nearest regional hospital.

In line with the provisions of the Protocol, the Ministry of Women’s Rights, CD, FW & CP is informed of the case by the Police and arrangements are made for psychological assistance and legal counselling to be provided to the victim. Depending on the seriousness of the case, the Psychologist may also visit the victims at the hospital where the case is being handled. Follow up actions are then ensured through the Family Support Bureaux of the Ministry (Bell Village, Goodlands, Flacq, Bambous, Floreal & Mare D’Albert)

At the hospital, victims are seen on a fast track basis and provided with emergency treatment in a specific ward (Sexual Assault Unit), which is separated from other patients attending hospital. The victim is examined by a Police Medical Officer. The Protocol also provides for the victim to be seen by specialists such as Gynaecologist, Pediatrician, Psychologist or Medical Social Worker.

27 cases have been reported to the Ministry since the coming into operation of the Protocol of Assistance to Victims of Sexual Assault in March 2006.

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