Mauritius

Detains migrants or asylum seekers?

Rarely

Has laws regulating migration-related detention?

Yes

Refugees

5

2023

Asylum Applications

8

2023

International Migrants

29,142

2024

Population

1,271,169

2024

Overview

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

Mauritius: Covid-19 and Detention

By the end of July, Mauritius had recorded nearly 350 cases of Covid-19 as well as 10 related deaths. Mauritius began taking precautionary measures early. On 22 January, the government began screening people upon arrival at the airport and from 28 February, despite there being no confirmed cases in the country, authorities began quarantining visitors […]

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Union Workers Bring Provisions to the 44 Unpaid and Covid-19-vulnerable Indian Migrant Workers Employed by an Indian Construction Company in Mauritius, (Building and Wood Workers' International,
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DETENTION STATISTICS

Migration Detainee Entries
Not Available
protprot

DETAINEE DATA

Total Number of Children Placed in Immigration Detention (Year)
Not Available
protprot 2017

DETENTION CAPACITY

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION

ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA

PRISON DATA

Criminal Prison Population (Year)
2,177
protprot 2017
2,663
protprot 2013
2,664
protprot 2012
2,384
protprot 2009
2,272
protprot 2007
2,572
protprot 2004
1,985
protprot 2001
1,510
protprot 1998
1,181
protprot 1995
849
protprot 1992
Percentage of Foreign Prisoners (Year)
6.4%
protprot 2012
4.9%
protprot 2009
Prison Population Rate (per 100,000 of National Population)
170
protprot 2017
202
protprot 2013
203
protprot 2012
184
protprot 2009
178
protprot 2007
206
protprot 2004
164
protprot 2001
128
protprot 1998
104
protprot 1995
77
protprot 1992

POPULATION DATA

Population (Year)
1,271,169
protprot 2024
1,300,000
protprot 2023
1,000,000
protprot 2020
1,273,000
protprot 2015
International Migrants (Year)
29,142
protprot 2024
28,893
protprot 2020
28,849
protprot 2019
28,600
protprot 2015
International Migrants as Percentage of Population (Year)
2.29%
protprot 2024
2.27%
protprot 2020
2.2%
protprot 2015
Refugees (Year)
5
protprot 2023
20
protprot 2020
20
protprot 2019
16
protprot 2018
5
protprot 2017
0
protprot 2016
Asylum Applications (Year)
8
protprot 2023
0
protprot 2014
Stateless Persons (Year)
0
protprot 2015

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

Gross Domestic Product per Capita (in USD)
$ 10,016,000
protprot 2014
Remittances to the Country (in USD)
$ 266,000,000
protprot 2014
Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) (in Millions USD)
48.9
protprot 2014
Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP)
63 (High)
protprot 2015

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Does the Country Detain People for Migration, Asylum, or Citizenship Reasons?

Rarely

2023

Unknown

2020
Does the Country Have Specific Laws that Provide for Migration-Related Detention?

Yes

2023

Yes

1973
Detention-Related Legislation
Name
Year Adopted
Last Amended
Immigration Act 1970
1973
2008
Legal Tradition(s)

Common law

2017

Civil law

2017

GROUNDS FOR DETENTION

Criminal Penalties for Immigration-Related Violations
Fines
Incarceration
Year
Yes
Yes
1973
Grounds for Criminal Immigration-Related Incarceration / Maximum Length of Incarceration
Grounds for Incarceration
Maximum n. of Days
Year
Unauthorized entry
365
1973
Unauthorized exit
365
1973
Has the Country Decriminalised Immigration-Related Violations?

No

1973

LENGTH OF DETENTION

DETENTION INSTITUTIONS

PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS

COSTS & OUTSOURCING

COVID-19 DATA

TRANSPARENCY

MONITORING

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MONITORING BODIES

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISMS (OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO UN CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE)

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (NGOS)

GOVERNMENTAL MONITORING BODIES

INTERNATIONAL DETENTION MONITORING

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES & TREATY BODIES

International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
ICERD, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1972
2017
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
1970
2017
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1992
2017
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
1973
2017
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1973
2017
CEDAW, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
1984
2017
CTOCSP, Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
2003
2017
CTOCTP, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
2003
2017
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2010
2017
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
1990
2017
OPCAT, Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
2005
2005
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 11/19
Treaty Reservations
Reservation Year
Observation Date
CRPD Article 24
2010
2017
Individual Complaints Procedures
Acceptance Year
ICCPR, First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 1973
1973
CEDAW, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 1999 2008
2008
Ratio of Complaints Procedures Accepted
Observation Date
2/7
2017
Relevant Recommendations or Observations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Recommendation Year
Observation Date
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights § 33. The State party intensify its efforts to protect the rights of migrant workers and, in particular: (a) Continue to raise awareness among migrant workers of their rights provided in legislation and of the complaint mechanisms available to them; (b) Improve the complaint mechanisms and provide complainants with the necessary assistance, including legal assistance; (c) Apply deterrent penalties for contravening employers; (d) Establish a regulatory framework for recruitment agencies and monitor their activities; (e) Strengthen cooperation with workers’ countries of origin, through bilateral agreements, to protect and promote the rights of those workers. 2019
2019

> UN Special Procedures

> UN Universal Periodic Review

Relevant Recommendations or Observations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
No 2024 4th
2024
No 2013
2017
No 2009
2017

> Global Compact for Migration (GCM)

GCM Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

> Global Compact on Refugees (GCR)

GCR Resolution Endorsement
Observation Date
2018

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

Regional Legal Instruments
Year of Ratification (Treaty) / Transposed (Directive) / Adoption (Regulation)
Observation Date
ACRWC, African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 1992
1992
2017
ACHPR, African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 1992
1992
2017

HEALTH CARE PROVISION

HEALTH IMPACTS

COVID-19

Country Updates
By the end of July, Mauritius had recorded nearly 350 cases of Covid-19 as well as 10 related deaths. Mauritius began taking precautionary measures early. On 22 January, the government began screening people upon arrival at the airport and from 28 February, despite there being no confirmed cases in the country, authorities began quarantining visitors from countries with a large number of cases. In mid-March, only essential services were allowed to remain open. The situation was then relaxed from April onwards, albeit with strict controls. On 30 April, the Construction Workers’ Union of Mauritius (CMWEU) reportedly assisted 44 unpaid and Covid-19 vulnerable Indian migrant workers employed by an Indian construction company. The workers had not received their wages for the month of March despite a government commitment to shoulder half of the workers’ salaries to ensure income security. The Indian workers said that they had not been provided with any personal protective equipment (PPE) and that they lacked money to buy toiletries, such as soap and toothpaste, for their personal hygiene. There does not appear to be a dedicated immigration detention system in the country, nor specific legislation relating to immigration detention. However, criminal sanctions (fines and prison terms) for offences such as irregular entry or making false or misleading statements in connection with entry or exit from Mauritian territory, may be imposed. Also, according to Mauritius' response (dated 29 March 2019) to the UN Committee on Migrant Worker’s Draft General Comment No. 5 on Migrants’ Rights to Liberty and Freedom from Arbitrary Detention Questionnaire, there is no law or policy on the granting of refugee status or political asylum in Mauritius and attempts to treat applications for refugee status or political asylum on a case-by-case basis by facilitating their settlement in a country willing to receive them. The GDP has been unable to find reports indicating that authorities have adopted any measures to assist migrants.
Did the country release immigration detainees as a result of the pandemic?
Unknown
protprot 2022
Did the country Temporarily Cease or Restrict Issuing Detention Orders?
Unknown
protprot 2022
Did the Country Adopt These Pandemic-Related Measures for People in Immigration Detention?
Unknown (Unknown) Unknown Unknown Unknown
protprot 2022
Did the Country Lock-Down Previously "Open" Reception Facilities, Shelters, Refugee Camps, or Other Forms of Accommodation for Migrant Workers or Other Non-Citizens?
Unknown
protprot 2022
Were cases of COVID-19 reported in immigration detention facilities or any other places used for immigration detention purposes?
Unknown
protprot 2022
Did the Country Cease or Restrict Deportations/Removals During any Period After the Onset of the Pandemic?
Unknown
protprot 2022
Did the Country Release People from Criminal Prisons During the Pandemic?
Yes
protprot 2020
Did Officials Blame Migrants, Asylum Seekers, or Refugees for the Spread of COVID-19?
Unknown
protprot 2022
Did the Country Restrict Access to Asylum Procedures?
Not Applicable
protprot 2019
Did the Country Commence a National Vaccination Campaign?
Yes
protprot 2022
Were Populations of Concern Included/Excluded From the National Vaccination Campaign?
Unknown (Unknown) Unknown Unknown Unknown
protprot 2022