The Australian High Commission was proud to partner with the NGO Passerelle for the launch of the final component of its Green Flag Project – a podcast series promoting positive masculinity and engaging men in meaningful conversations about gender- based violence (GBV). Through funding from Australia’s Direct Aid Program (DAP), the Green Flag Project campaign aims to shift the narrative by emphasising the crucial role that men play in preventing and addressing GBV.
As a recap, TGFP is a national campaign launched in 2025 to promote healthier gender roles and a more positive model of masculinity—an innovative way of tackling gender-based violence in Mauritius. At its core is a belief that real social progress can only happen if we fundamentally rethink how gender roles are shaped. The Green Flag Project takes a holistic approach to addressing gender-based violence, weaving together three interconnected strands. It includes a TikTok campaign, with Vincent Duvergé & Sheryl Smith, that reshapes perceptions of masculinity through short, engaging videos challenging misogynistic attitudes, and it also introduced a 2025 Budget Memorandum designed to lay out a clear roadmap for national funding priorities to strengthen Mauritius’ response to gender-based violence. The Allyship Podcast represents the last component of the 2025 Green Flag Project campaign. It is available on the Passerelle NGO Youtube Channel
The Allyship Podcast opens with a powerful conversation between Madame Speaker of the National Assembly, the Hon. Mrs. Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra, and the Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Ms. Kate Chamley. Each subsequent episode amplifies diverse male voices—from the testimony of a father whose daughter survived GBV to the inspiring vision of Kushal Bhageea, student at Bhujoharry College. Featured guests also include Mr. Satyajit Boolell, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Jean-Luc Emile, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, and Mr. Dhiruj Ramluggun from Business Mauritius.
Australia is acting both at home and abroad to find lasting solutions to GBV. The country has been working with its partners around the world to deliver programs that prevent, address and respond to GBV. The Australian High Commissioner, H.E. Ms Kate Chamley said: “GBV remains a critical issue in Mauritius with reported cases rising significantly in recent years. Just last week, it was reported by the local press that more than 4000 cases of domestic violence have been reported to the Mauritian police in a year. The Ministry of Gender in Mauritius has been leading transformative national efforts to address GBV. But it is also our collective responsibility, and that of men to build a safer world for women and girls. This is why the Green Flag Project is so unique – it promotes healthier gender roles and challenges harmful stereotypes by bringing men into the conversation. I want to thank Passerelle for this initiative and to Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy for leading the campaign for a year now.”
Speaking at the launch of the podcast series, Mr Rashid Ahmine, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “The number of serious cases of GBV is on the rise. So many women are suffering in silence. The situation is alarming, and we all need to do something about it. The most efficient and successful way to address the problem of GBV like many of other illness our society face today is through education. Let us convey the message to all- our youngsters, adults and seniors- that women were created to be loved and not to be abused. ”Let us treat them with dignity, respect, care and love. We shall all condemn hegemonic masculinity and promote healthy relationships for the good of the family and society. Men should be the champion of this cause. This is precisely what the Green Flag Project aims at, and I view the podcast series launched today as a very laudable initiative for which I highly commend both NGO Passerelle and the Australian High Commission.’’
For Ms Mélanie Valère-Cicéron, President of NGO Passerelle: “Our mission at Passerelle has always been to accompany survivors of violence. But our responsibility also lies in prevention and in changing the norms that allow violence to persist in our homes, our schools, and our society. Prevention begins with how we raise and value both our girls and boys. The Green Flag Project was launched with one conviction: men and boys are essential partners in ending violence against women. For too long, gender-based violence has been seen as a problem that women must solve while they are the ones suffering from it. Through this project, we choose to change the narrative. We choose to open conversations with young men about respect, emotions, consent, and healthy relationships. We chose to create role models. Today, the Green Flag stands as a positive symbol of masculinity. Our deepest appreciation to the Australian High Commission for believing in the transformative power of engaged women and men. This work does not end today. Together, let us continue to raise the Green Flag high.”
Ms. Marie-Noelle Elissac-Foy, Champion of the Green Flag Project campaign, said: “At Passerelle, we chose to engage men in meaningful conversations about GBV, positive masculinity, and their critical role as allies in creating gender-equitable environments. Because silence fuels harm, and dialogue sparks transformation. Each episode features voices that matter. Conversations have power. They challenge us, educate us, and move us from awareness to action. Every difficult discussion we have about gender-based violence is a step toward ending it. Every man who speaks up encourages another to do the same.”
On 26th of November 2025, The Allyship Podcast launch also featured a sharing by actors & content creators Sheryl Smith and Vincent Duvergé-Smith participated, in March 2025, in the TikTok series. They shared how important it is for content creators with a national platform to use their voices for a good cause. Kushal Bhageea from the Bhujoharry College spoke about He4Real, their own movement to promote masculine positivity among the younger generation. He shared that the TikTok videos from The Green Flag campaign in March inspired their own He4Real movement.
The event concluded with a powerful slam – What makes a man? – written by Romi Poonoosamy of SantralArt and performed by artist Lionkklash.
