A CALL FOR GBV TO BE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY

Sir,

Amid the political unrest, Eswatini is blighted by the pandemic of gender-based violence (GBV). This violence is perpetuated by patriarchy which is underpinned by male domination, masculinity and abuse of power by males who are put in privileged positions in society. We have seen government respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with all hands on deck, and with responsive investment and protocols backed by determination. Violence against women is also a pandemic, which is older than the virus but there no government determination to combat it. There has never been a more important moment to resolve to put the country’s combined resources and commitment to end violence against women and girls for good.

Tackle

Together we must tackle this male violence that affects and damages everyone – families and communities, societies and economies – and holds back all our efforts for a better nation, human rights and sustainable development. It has been that ‘in Eswatini one in three girls experience sexual violence before the age of 18, while, reportedly, nearly half of women will experience sexual violence in their lifetime; 87 of every 1 000 teenage girls fall pregnant’. While the deputy prime minister made a call ‘for all stakeholders, government, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, private sector as well as development partners to come together and fund initiatives towards preventing GBV, but this is not enough.

Declare

Government must declare this a national disaster and back this declaration with political will to end it. While Eswatini is experiencing troubling times because of the unrest, there are many women who have lost their lives because of their intimate partners. With the passing of the sexual offence and domestic violence (SODV)Act, which took 10 years to pass into law, there was hope that at last the GBV scourge will be confronted forcefully. Unfortunately, there was resistance on the implementation of the law even by lawmakers of this country, which made us wonder who they were representing. Are they happy that women and girls have been relegated to second class citizens in their own country, and that they are not free to walk freely in a country they call their own? Some girls have been raped by their fathers, which really questions what has become of our society as women and girls are suffering in silence.

Angry

What makes emaSwati angry and frustrated is that those who are powerful and connected are not called to account for gender-based violence crimes. Instead they get appointed into higher positions as if they are being rewarded. This situation is, sadly, a reflection of how women and girls issues are ignored just because they are not being heard or seen. We call upon the police to do their work without fear, favour or prejudice. They shouldn’t allow evil to thrive just because perpetrators have certain statuses in society. If this is how law is dispensed, society will lose faith in the justice system and resort to an eye for an eye. We are calling for GBV to be declared an emergency. This will unlock resources and mobilise society including our leaders to do their part.

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