which persons of another such description are not made subject or are accorded privileges or
advantages that are not accorded to persons of another such description.
458. Furthermore, the Equal Opportunities Act provide further safeguards and protection by
complementing the provisions in the Constitution. Under the EOA, direct or indirect
discrimination is interpreted as a less favourable treatment on the basis of status. "Status" includes
age, caste, creed, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, impairment, marital status, colour, place of
origin, political opinion, race, sex.
459. The Equal Opportunities Act applies to employment activities, education, provision of goods
and services, accommodation, the disposal of immovable property, companies, partnerships,
“sociétés”, and registered associations, clubs and access to premises which the public may enter
or use and sports. It also applies to both the public and private sectors and includes within its ambit
sexual harassment. Discrimination by victimization is also prohibited.
460. Certain provisions of the Criminal Code achieve in effect the promotion of mutual respect
and tolerance. Some of these provisions and their related penalties have been listed below –
1. Section 183 (“Interference with freedom of conscience”) provides for a fine not
exceeding 100,000 rupees, and by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years;
2. Section 184 (“Disturbing religious ceremony”) provides for a fine not exceeding
100,000 rupees and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years;
3. Section 185 (“Outrage on religious worship”) provides for a fine not exceeding 100,000
rupees, and imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years;
4. Section 206 (“Outrage against public and religious morality”) provides for
imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years and to a fine not exceeding 100,000
rupees;
5. Section 282 (“Stirring up racial hatred”) provides under subsection (1) for a fine not
exceeding 100,000 rupees and penal servitude for a term not exceeding 20 years
6. Section 283 (“Sedition”) is an offence committed by any person who, by any means
specified in section 206 — (a) holds or brings into hatred or contempt, or excites
disaffection towards, the Government or the administration of justice, (b) raises
discontent or disaffection among the citizens of Mauritius or promotes feelings or ill
will and hostility between different classes of such citizens. The penalty provided for
is imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years and a fine not exceeding 100,000
rupees;
7. Section 286 refers to “Importing seditious publication”;
8. Section 287 relates to “Suspending publication of newspaper containing seditious
publication”;
9. Section 287A concerns “Prohibiting circulation of seditious publication”;
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