A campaign is underway in Swaziland (eSwatini) aimed
at getting both women and men to share their experiences of gender-based
violence. They are being asked to write their own stories as part of ‘My Body,
My Experience.’
The Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO) in a statement widely
circulated on social media said, ‘Magnitudes of
women and children are subjected to gender-based violence (GBV). GBV is not
only limited to the home but it is a lived experience even outside the home. It
is prevalent in the workplaces, cultural (national events), in schools and
tertiary institutions.
‘Many laws are in place
in Swaziland to combat GBV but unfortunately it persists. The enactment of Sexual
Offences and Domestic Violence Act has been welcomed with mixed feelings.
Enthusiasm from women activists and the progressive camp, whilst the
conservatives and traditionalists remain skeptical.’
A demonstration in
Manzini, the main commercial city of Swaziland, in August 2019 called
for the increase in the number
of murders of women and children in the kingdom to be declared a national
emergency. The call for action echoed one made by the
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in September 2018. It said it would
support the kingdom’s government and make GBV a national crisis. UNFPA’s
Officer In Charge Margaret Thwala-Tembe told a workshop that marginalised and
vulnerable groups such as persons living with disabilities and LGBTI should be
included.
The Swaziland Action Group
Against Abuse (SWAGAA) has reported that one in three Swazi girls will
experience some form of sexual violence by the time they are 18 years old,
while almost half of Swazi women will experience some form of sexual violence
in their lives.
The stories from ‘My Body, My Experience’ will be published online as part of the United
Nations’ 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which runs from 25 November to 10 December 2019.
SWAYOCO said the call for stories was open to the
general public. ‘We encourage everyone to share
their story especially the traditionally marginalized groups such as people
living with disabilities, lesbian, bisexual and trans-identified. In as much as
the campaign is focused on women, children and other vulnerable groups, men
cannot be left behind because they are also victims just as they are also
offenders.’
Submissions guidelines:
Stories must be written in the first person (‘I’ statements).
Submissions must be made in either Siswati or English language.
Note: Please say if you want to remain anonymous.
Submission deadline is 15 November 2019 in
Word format to email swayocop@gmail.com subject line – my body my story. They
can also be sent via whatsapp (+26876957762). Approved stories shall be
published on SWAYOCO’s online platforms and shared with partner organizations
for wider publicity.
See also
Call
to declare murders of women and children in Swaziland a national emergency
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/08/call-to-declare-murders-of-women-and.html
Rise in gender-based violence
Rise in gender-based violence
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2017/12/rise-in-gender-based-violence.html
Police in Swaziland beat 14-year-old who went to report she had been raped by her father, court told
Police in Swaziland beat 14-year-old who went to report she had been raped by her father, court told
https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/01/police-in-swaziland-beat-14-year-old.html
‘Dad rapes daughter to test virginity’
‘Dad rapes daughter to test virginity’
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