The Global Rainbow Foundation (GRF) is a charitable trust working in the social sector towards the rehabilitation and empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for nearly 10 years through a series of activities and services. GRF has been a part of the Mauritian Community fighting for the rights of persons with disabilities since the beginning and has contributed to the support of more than 4000 persons with different types of disabilities. In line with our mission to serve the most vulnerable people especially persons with disabilities, GRF has launched a focused campaign to fervently advocate for the Disability Rights Bill to be passed in the Parliament at the earliest. 

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was signed in September 2007 and ratified in January 2010 by Mauritius. One of the obligations contained in the Convention is that any government from any country that signs the UNCRPD, it is incumbent on the government that a national law should be formulated to guarantee the enjoyment of the rights enumerated in the Convention. 

There have been several rounds of discussions and promises made by the Mauritian Government that a Disability Rights legislation will be formulated. However, there has been little/no progress in translating these promises to concrete action. It has been a decade since the ratification of the CRPD and not even a first draft of the legislation is available in the public domain.Therefore, Global Rainbow Foundation has prepared a draft of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill 2021 and sent to all concerned stakeholders. 

The Disability Bill will give effect to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The object of this Bill is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their dignity and to eliminate discrimination against them.

Therefore, not having a Disability Bill in Mauritius leads to continuous abuse, discrimination, and violence towards Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).