LM Report 2003

Mauritius

Mauritius both signed and ratified the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, and became a State Party on 1 June 1998. In April 2001, Mauritius enacted domestic implementing legislation.^[1] Mauritius submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report on 20 May 2002, but has not yet provided the annual report due 30 April 2003.^[2] Mauritius participated in the Fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in September 2002, and attended intersessional Standing Committee meetings in February and May 2003. It also voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74 on 22 November 2002, supporting the universalization and implementation of the treaty. Mauritius is a member of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), but it has not ratified the CCW’s Amended Protocol II.

Mauritius has never produced, exported or used antipersonnel mines and it is not mine-affected.^[3] In 2002, Mauritius reported a stock of 93 non-metallic mines of Indian origin, which it said were “retained for purpose of destruction.”^[4] In February 2003, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Landmine Monitor that the mines were “actually stored, for training purposes at the Special Mobile Force,” of the Mauritius Police Force.^[5]

Since May 2002, Mauritians working in Mozambique are issued notices in English and French warning them of the danger of landmines.^[6]

[1] The Anti-Personnel Mines (Prohibition) Act. Landmine Monitor Report 2002, pp. 346-347; Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 105.
[2] Article 7 Report, 20 May 2002 (for the period 30 April 2001-30 April 2002).
[3] Article 7 Report, Form I, 20 May 2002.
[4] Article 7 Report, Form B and D, 20 May 2002; information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in their response to the Landmine Monitor questionnaire, Ref: TS/M/76/1, 26 June 2002.
[5] Response to Landmine Monitor questionnaire from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Ref. TS/M/67/1, 26 February 2003.
[6] Ibid.