[1] The department has been known under several different names, including: In 1991, Sheilabai Bappoo began serving as Minister for Women's Rights, Child Development and Family Welfare.

[2] From September 2000 until July 2005, Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie served as Minister of Women’s Rights, Child Development & Family Welfare.

[3] The position was held by Bappoo as the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare from May 2010 until August 2011,[2] when she was succeeded by Maria Francesca Mireille Martin until December 2014.

[6] She was succeeded by lawyer Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus,[7] however, she was removed from the position in July 2018 after an inquiry accused her of meeting with jailed drug traffickers who were not her clients.

[6] From November 2019 to October 2024, Kalpana Devi Koonjoo-Shah was appointed Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare.