A half-day discussion that saw the participation of representatives of the public and private sectors and civil society. Key speakers Professor Clare Anderson and Dr. Melissa Ifill marked the event.
Human Rights keep evolving and raise pertinent questions that demand honest reflection.
As Guardian of our Constitution, I am mindful that its strength lies not only in the letter of the law but in the spirit with which we honour dignity every day, in the smallest interactions.
This is why, at the conference organised by the National Human Rights Commission to mark International Human Rights Day 2025 today, I emphasised that new-generation rights demand new ways of thinking.
Questions such as:
• Can access to cooling become a matter of survival in a warming world?
• How do we protect mental health as part of the right to life, especially for those serving on the frontlines?
• How do we ensure digital spaces without undermining dignity through cyberbullying or rage-bait?
• How do we guarantee stigma-free equality for women facing chronic health conditions that impact opportunity?
• How do we safeguard dignity for our rapidly ageing population?
• And how do we protect those who arrive at our shores seeking safety, compassion, and fairness?
These are some of the concerns that challenge us to understand that climate resilience, digital safety, mental well-being, and a stigma-free society are no longer luxuries but societal imperatives.
I thank the Chairperson of NHRC, Mr. Satyajit Boolell, SC, and all members, as well as the Attorney-General, Mr. Gavin Glover, SC, our UN partners and distinguished experts, whose insights enriched today’s dialogue.
We must build a Mauritius that faces the future with clarity and compassion- As One People, As One Nation.