Mauritius: Nicolas Ritter
| Gender Links
| Name | Nicolas |
| Surname | Ritter |
| Country | Mauritius |
| Give a short history of the leader | Nicolas, a man of art who has an immense love for theatre, musicals and films, has initiated many projects which have shaped and are still shaping the social landscape of Mauritius and the lives of people. He is the founder of PILS (1996), the Founder of Sida Info Maurice Hotline (1997), the founder of the first PLHIV network in Mauritius (2002), the founder of the first PLHIV network in the Indian Ocean (2003), the Co-Founder of CUT, the first and only Harm Reduction organisation in Mauritius (2004), and the Co-Founder of Collectif arc en Ciel, the first LGBT organisation in Mauritius (2005). He is the first Mauritian to publicly disclose his HIV+ status (2001). As the Executive Director of PILS, he is working towards ensuring the health and rights of the LGBT community. He is also the Ambassador Rise and Shine (E.U) and the Co-founder of the Rainbow Parade in Mauritius. |
| Objectives | Nicolas seeks to contribute to engender social change in Mauritius, the Indian Ocean and the world through the work that he does at PILS and at Coalition Plus. Stopping new HIV & HCV infections, allowing access to the best treatment for all people, irrespective of one's class, ethnicity and gender, and ending stigma attached to HIV and HCV are some of the motifs which drive him to redouble his efforts. Nicolas believes in equal rights and he is leading a combat along with his team to allow everyone to enjoy the same rights and to bring a change in policies. |
| Key activities | His unflinching determination and efforts led to access of ARV for all patients in 2002. He pushed for the creation on the National Aids Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, contributed to the HIV & AIDS Act, to the introduction of Needle Exchange Programs and other Harm Reduction Services and in bringing changes in the Civil Status Act. |
| Key challenges | N/A |
Results | |
| Change at the individual level | Theatre Musicals ( Joseph and it's amazing technicolor dreamcoat – Les Miserables) Singing (Les enfants d'un reve) TV Serie (C'est la Vie) Medal from the city of Curepipe |
| Evidence of change at the individual level | N/A |
| Change at the household level | N/A |
| Evidence of change at the household level | N/A |
| Change at institutional level | N/A |
| Evidence of change at institutional level | N/A |
| Change at a policy level | ARV for all in 2002 Recognition of Indian Ocean as a health region on it's own Pushed for the creation on the National Aids Committee chaired by the Prime Minister Contributed to the HIV & AIDS Act Contributed to the introduction of Needle Exchange Programs and other Harm reduction Services Change of the Civil Status Act |
| Evidence of change at a policy level | https://defimedia.info/17e-colloque-vihsida-ocean-indien-nicolas-ritter-deplore-les-absences-du-pm-et-danwar-husnoohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmfs2P49QWU |
| Capacity building | N/A |
| Lessons learned and shared | N/A |
| Next Steps | Capacity building in the Indian Ocean region Contribute to change in drug laws and policies in Mauritius Remove the study / working ban for HIV positive foreigners in Mauritius Abrogation of article 250 in Mauritius ( sodomy laws) Recognition of Trans Women and Men |
Comments
Related Drivers Of Change