It was both a social and political event as speakers called on the kingdom to respect the rights of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) people. Homosexual acts are illegal in Swaziland.
The Pride attracted attention all over the world in
mainstream and social media. Many of the events were streamed onto social media
platforms as they were taking place.
The Times Sunday newspaper in Swaziland
reported (1 July 2018), ‘By all intents and purposes, it was a march that
confronted and attempted to break the socially entrenched homophobic
stereotypes.’
It added, ‘There was high anticipation among
the marchers that they would be allowed to proceed towards the city centre, but
the agreement with the police was to avoid those busy areas of the city for
security reasons. The messages out there were about sensitising society to
embrace this group of people, show them respect, and love them just as God loved
them.’
United States Ambassador to Swaziland Lisa Peterson
and European Union Ambassador Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones were among those to
speak on the need for human rights and justice for all people.
There is a great deal of prejudice against LGBTI
people in Swaziland. In May 2016, Rock of Hope, which campaigns for
LGBTI equality in Swaziland and organised the Pride event, reported to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review
on Swaziland that laws, social stigma and prejudice prevented LGBTI
organisations from operating freely.
The report, presented jointly with three South African-based
organisations, stated, ‘In Swaziland sexual health rights of LGBTI are not
protected. There is inequality in the access to general health care, gender
affirming health care as opposed to sex affirming health care and sexual
reproductive health care and rights of these persons. HIV prevention, testing,
treatment and care services continue to be hetero-normative in nature only
providing for specific care for men born as male and women born as female,
thereby leaving out trans men and women as an unprotected population which
continues to render the state’s efforts at addressing the spread and incidence
of HIV within general society futile.’
The report added, ‘LGBTIs are discriminated and condemned openly by
society. This is manifest in negative statements uttered by influential people
in society e.g., religious, traditional and political leaders. Traditionalists
and conservative Christians view LGBTIs as against Swazi tradition and
religion. There have been several incidents where traditionalists and religious
leaders have issued negative statements about lesbians.
‘Human rights abuses and violations against members of the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and intersex population continue to go undocumented,
unreported, unprosecuted and not addressed.’
It added, ‘There is no legislation recognizing LGBTIs or protecting the
right to a non-heterosexual orientation and gender identity and as a result
LGBTI cannot be open about their orientation or gender identity for fear of
rejection and discrimination. For example, the Marriage Act, only recognizes a
marriage or a union between a man and a woman. Because of the absence of a law
allowing homosexuals to conclude neither marriage nor civil unions, same-sex
partners cannot adopt children in Swaziland.’
The report made seven recommendations to the Swazi Government, including
to review laws that undermine LGBTI persons’ rights in particular and human
rights in general especially as they conflict with the Constitution; and to
ensure prosecution of State agents who commit human rights violations against
LGBTI individuals and their organizations.
(Pictures sourced from various social media sites)
See also
LESBIAN
AND GAY MURDERS IN SWAZILAND
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/03/lesbian-and-gay-murders-in-swaziland.html
SWAZI MINISTER LIES TO UN ON GAYS
SWAZI MINISTER LIES TO UN ON GAYS
GAY
PREJUDICE RIFE IN SWAZILAND
COMMUNITY
POLICE BANISH GAY MEN
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2013/08/community-police-banish-gay-men.html
NO RIGHTS FOR GAYS: JUSTICE MINISTER
NO RIGHTS FOR GAYS: JUSTICE MINISTER
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-rights-for-gays-justice-minister.html
PRESS VILIFIED OVER LESBIAN’S DEATH
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2010/01/press-vilified-over-lesbians-death.html
PRESS VILIFIED OVER LESBIAN’S DEATH
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