UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 14) On 24 September 2012 Swaziland implemented recommendations made in the first cycle of the UPR by ratifying the following international instruments:
(a) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 1) HRW mentioned that Swaziland had ratified the CRPD ...

National Report:
Para 10) Further, Eswatini has made progress in developing sector policies guiding the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights as well as improving the livelihoods of Emaswati. These include National Gender Policy, Education and Training Sector Policy 2018 …
Para 39) The National Gender Policy 2010 has been reviewed to align it with the Beijing declaration and Platform for Action as well as other regional and international frameworks. This policy will guide gender mainstreaming strategies for the next 10 years (2020–2030). However, due to the COVID 19 pandemic disruptions, it is yet to be implemented and integrated into national budgets.
Para 40) Eswatini has continued to invest in women driven economic empowerment initiatives, with the leadership from government’s strategic roadmap 2019–2023. A case in point is E100 million has been used to establish the Women’s Business Hub in Manzini.
Para 41) The Small, Micro and Medium Enterprise (SMME) Policy 2018 and the Eswatini National Financial Inclusion Strategy (2017-2022) have been adopted to contribute to poverty alleviation by enabling alternative channels to serve the poor.
Para 42) The major aim of the Financial Inclusion Strategy is to ensure the “delivery of financial services and products in ways that are available, accessible and affordable to all segments” of the country’s populace. The target is to grow adult access from 43% to 75% and reduce the excluded from 27% to 15% by 2022. The target will be achieved by expanding mobile money services (e-money) increasing usage of banks, reducing risks in management of financial services and devising alternative ways of serving the poor. Further, it targets the un-served or underserved in rural areas; women and youth; Micro, Small & Medium Entrepreneurs including in the agriculture sector. The Strategy will facilitate the participation of Women and Youth Entrepreneurs in economic activities, particularly women in the Informal sector who often lack access to credit for business start-ups and growth. Studies reveal that the Informal sector provides employment to 40.2 percent women compared to 25.5 percent men.
Para 43) Further, the country has developed a Citizens Economic Empowerment Bill 2021 to enable equal participation of women and men in economic transformation. The Bill seeks to, among other issues, “promote gender equality in accessing, owning, managing, controlling and exploiting economic resources”.
Para 44) The Government of Eswatini has established the Federation of National Associations of women in business in Eastern and Southern Africa (FEMCOM) along with a strategic plan of 2018-2022. FEMCOM is responsible for facilitating economic empowerment of women and youth entrepreneurs. Its mandate is to promote programmes, which integrate women into trade and development activities in various business fields, thus contributing to national development and the promotion of vision 2022.
Para 45) In 2020, the Government launched 50 Million African Women’s Speak digital Platform. To contribute to the economic empowerment of women through the provision of a networking platform that will enable women in business to access information and financial services. Specifically, the objective is to establish a platform to improve the ability of women entrepreneurs to network and share information as well as to access information on financial and non-financial services.
Para 48) With regards to representation of women in politics, Eswatini enacted the Election of Women Members into the House of Assembly Act No. 06 of 2018 to ensure that at least 30% of women constitute the House of Assembly, thereby giving effect to section 86 of the Constitution. However, this target has not been met as currently, women legislators constitute 20.38% of the legislators, and 29% at Cabinet.
Para 49) There are still barriers that hinder women’s ability to be elected or appointed into decision making positions such as patriarchy, economic disadvantages, social stereotypes, and socio-political perceptions around women’s leadership. As a mitigating measure, Eswatini is developing a National Strategy on women’s participation in politics and decision-making. This strategy seeks to address barriers to women’s participation.
Para 50) The Elections and Boundaries Commission conducts Civic Voter education to sensitize members of the public on the electoral process before elections. Further Civil Society Organisations conduct educational vote for women campaigns to ensure women’s participation in politics and decision-making structures. Women candidates and nominees are capacitated on leadership and campaigning skills prior to Secondary Elections.

UN Compilation:
Para 55) The United Nations country office in Eswatini indicated that the State had made significant strides in addressing gender inequalities. However, pervasive structural disparities, deep-rooted harmful gender stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes had led to gender inequalities that disadvantaged women, while the country’s dual legal system – which was based on a constitutional legal framework and traditional and customary laws – provided women and girls with limited protection.
Para 56) The HR Committee noted with concern that several domestic laws contained discriminatory provisions towards women, such as the Marriage Act, and chapter 4 of the Constitution, which differentiated between men and women in the acquisition and transfer of citizenship. The Committee was also concerned that customary law and practices perpetuated inequality between men and women, in particular with regard to inheritance and property rights, and that cultural practices such as polygamy, forced marriage and bride inheritance continued to exist. The lack of equal representation of women in the public and private sectors, in particular in decision-making positions, was also a matter of concern.
Para 58) While the United Nations country team welcomed the Employment Act, which provided equal pay for equal work, it regretted that women’s participation and representation in politics and positions of influence remained a major challenge. In particular, the country team indicated that women’s representation in parliament still failed to meet the target of 30 per cent as provided for in the Constitution.

National Report:
Para 64) The Maternal Mortality Rate stands at 452/100,00018 and neonatal mortality is at 20/1000 live births, and Infant mortality is at 57/1000 live births. The MoH has developed guidelines for antenatal care, new-born care and for the management of obstetric emergencies for health care workers. In 2018 MoH conducted a Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) and Quality care assessment in all health facilities aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality.

UN Compilation:
Para 41) The United Nations country team noted that despite efforts made by Eswatini, the rates of maternal mortality remained high, at 452 per 100,000, as did teenage pregnancies, at 87 per 1,000 adolescents.
Para 42) The HR Committee was concerned at the significant increase in the maternal mortality rate and the high rate of maternal mortality resulting from unsafe abortions. It is also concerned by the high teenage pregnancy rate.