On the face of it Mauritius looks like a country with the longest democracy in the SADC region. A flourishing economy, political stability and a ?supposedly high rate of education?. But how do women fare in decision- making in this model island ?

2005 is an important milestone for Mauritian women as it marks the 10th anniversary of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on women, where the Beijing Platform for Action (BPA) was adopted. The Platform for Action is an internationally agreed plan for achieving gender equality across 12 critical areas and Mauritius was among the countries, which committed themselves to this plan.

It is indeed a fact that laws have been put in place to protect women and children from violence but unfortunately these laws have not prevented gender violence from being on the rise. Out of the 100 best performing companies in the private sector, 98 are headed by men although the public sector does better with a high percentage of females holding responsible positions.

Mauritius is the worst in the SADC region as far as women in politics are concerned with only 5.7% women in Pparliament and 4% in the cabinet (until last year). This figure increased by 50% when Leela Devi Dookun became minister of Arts and Culture last year after a male minister resigned. But the real figure remains nevertheless 8%. Two women in a cabinet of 25. Government keeps reaffirming its commitment to the BPA and the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women). It will be interesting to know what the government will say about women in politics in New York in March 2005.

Where have we gone wrong when other countries which have known war, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing are doing better? Our next door neighbour the Seychelles did not need CEDAW to reach the 30% figure of women in politics by 2005.

Are Mauritian politicians afraid of women? Are they afraid to share power? Or are they afraid that women will do better as women have a better grasp of social problems? Our sisters in the SADC region had great hopes for us when prime minister Paul Bérenger was made Head of SADC in August last year.

It is not a secret that the present electoral system, the First Past the Post (FPP) does not help women to get there. The government knows that and was right in asking Albie Sachs to propose an alternative system for Mauritius. He recommended a mixture of FPP and Proportional Representation (PR) where women could move ahead. All countries with a PR system have seen the percentage of women in politics rise. But unfortunately Albie Sachs report has been put into a drawer for mites to enjoy instead of allowing women to participate fully.

We are on the eve of general elections and the governmental alliance cannot come up with a formula for more women to get there although they keep on saying that there will be more women in the next elections. The Gender, Media and Elections workshop organised by Gender Links of South Africa and Media Watch Organisation in February was a golden opportunity for all political leaders to walk their talk. Unfortunately the government sent representatives who could not commit themselves.

It will be interesting to know what will be in the suitcase of the Mauritian delegation at the Beijing + 10 Conference in New York. Even worse - what balance sheet will the head of the SADC, prime minister Berenger, present when he hands over to Botswana in August.

Today is International Women?s Day. Do we really have cause for celebration?