Mauritius: The United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General and Special Coordinator on improving the UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse, Mr Christian F. Saunders, paid a courtesy call this afternoon on the Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah, in Port-Louis.
He was accompanied by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms Amanda Serumaga.
In a statement, Saunders indicated that the meeting with the Minister was fruitful and cordial, adding that they discussed issues such as gender inequality, the rule of law, poverty and socio-economic opportunities for women and the lack of women’s presence in decision-making roles.
Both parties also highlighted provisions under the Children’s Act.
“Sexual exploitation and abuse is an endemic matter that is occurring in every society,” he said. He further spoke of practical measures and initiatives that could be implemented to address the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse as well as gender-based violence.
Saunders reiterated the UN’s support to Mauritius in improving the latter’s response to sexual exploitation and abuse.
The Under-Secretary-General was appointed as the Special Coordinator on improving the UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse in July 2022. He served as a member of the high-level task force established by the Secretary-General to develop a strategy to improve the organisation’s approach to preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse.
He previously served as Acting Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and as Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Operational Support (2019-2022) and the Department of Management (2018-2019).
Saunders has broad experience from across the UN and significant humanitarian and field experience, having begun his career with the Save The Children Fund (UK) in Sudan and then in Mozambique, and his UN career with the UNRWA in Gaza. He also served in various other postings with UNRWA, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Peacekeeping and the United Nations Population Fund.
He is a graduate of Royal Holloway College, University of London, and the University of Wales in the United Kingdom.