Democracy and Political Governance Box 3.1: Chapter 3 Standards and codes Mauritius has signed and/or ratified the following international instruments and standards: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 72 The Charter of the United Nations (UN), adhered to in 1968. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted and proclaimed on 10 December 1948. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), acceded to on 12 December 1973. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, acceded to on 12 December 1973. The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, acceded to on 12 December 1973. The Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (RES 53/144), adopted by the UN General Assembly without a vote on 9 December 1998. The Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, acceded to on 9 December 1992. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, acceded to on 30 May 1972. The Convention on the Political Rights of Women, acceded to on 18 July 1969. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CE-DAW), acceded to on 9 July 1984. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), signed on 11 November 2001 and ratified on 31 October 2008. The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, adopted without a vote by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 1993. The Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly on 25 November 1981. The Declaration on Fundamental Principles concerning the Contribution of the Mass Media to Strengthening Peace and International Understanding, to the Promotion of Human Rights and to Countering Racialism, Apartheid and Incitement to War, proclaimed unanimously by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 28 November 1978. UN General Assembly Resolution 1325 on Women in Conflict, voted unanimously by UNESCO on 31 October 2000. The Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, adopted without a vote by the Commission on Human Rights on 23 April 2003. The International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (not signed). The Convention on the Rights of the Child, acceded to on 26 July 1990. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, signed on 11 November 2001, but not ratified. The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, signed on 11 November 2001, but not ratified. The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, acceded to on 21 June 2005. Chapter 3 • • • • • • • • • Democracy and Political Governance The Protocol to Prevent, Eliminate and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, acceded to on 24 September 2003. The Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, adopted without vote by the UN General Assembly on 29 November 1985. The Convention relating to the Status of Refugees – succeeded from United Kingdom 25 October 1956. The Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees – not signed or ratified. The Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, proclaimed by General Assembly Resolution 3447 on 9 December 1975. The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, acceded to on 18 August 1970. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (not signed). The Declaration on Social and Legal Principles relating to the Protection and Welfare of Children, with Special Reference to Foster Placement and Adoption Nationally and Internationally, adopted without a vote by the UN General Assembly on 3 December 1986. The Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from being Subjected to Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted by General Assembly Resolution 3452 of 9 December 1975. Mauritius has signed and/or ratified the following regional instruments and standards: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU), ratified in April 2001. The African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1990), ratified in June 2002. The Grand Bay (Mauritius) Declaration and Plan of Action for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (1999), adopted in April 1999. The Durban Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa (2002), adopted by the AU Summit in July 2002. The AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, signed on 6 July 2004. The AU Peace and Security Protocol, ratified on 16 June 2003. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990), ratified on 14 February 1992. The African Platform on the Rights to Education (1999). The Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, signed on 10 September 1969. The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003), signed on 29 January 2005. The Cairo Declaration on the Establishment, within the OAU, of a Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (1993), adopted in June 1993. The Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA) Solemn Declaration (2000), adopted by the OAU Summit in July 2000. The Declaration on Framework for an OAU Response to Unconstitutional Changes of Governments (2000), adopted by the OAU Summit on 12 July 2000. The Decision on Unconstitutional Changes of Governments in Africa (2000), adopted by the OAU Assembly on 12 July 2000. The Declaration on Control of Illicit Drug Trafficking and Abuse in Africa, adopted by the AU Summit on 8 July 2002. 73