Mauritius: Advancing legal gender recognition and protection from hate

In Mauritius, Marang Fund partners are advancing advocacy for intersex rights and human rights-based responses to hate speech. The work is strongly alliance-centred, with partners focusing on coordination among grantees and stakeholders, recruitment of alliance members, MoUs, and regular alliance meetings to support joint action.

On intersex rights, partners are undertaking desk research, gathering lived experiences, reviewing legal and healthcare gaps, and strengthening engagement with key institutions, including the Ombudsperson for Children. This work supports a stronger evidence base for advocacy on bodily autonomy, dignity, child protection, and freedom from harmful practices.

On hate speech, partners are strengthening crisis response and documentation systems through the Anti-Haters Attack structure, case management, complaints registers, WhatsApp coordination, and legal complaints to relevant bodies. Human rights defenders and community members have also been trained to improve safety, reporting, and coordinated responses.

Partners are also closely following an independent legal gender recognition case currently before the courts, while staying alert to other LGBTIQ-related cases that may open pathways for support, solidarity, advocacy, or future litigation, including possible developments around marital equality.

Mauritius reminds us that strategic litigation work is not only found in courtrooms. It is also found in alliances, research, documentation, institutional engagement, and the patient work of making sure communities are ready when the law opens a door.