BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – The consequences of committing GBV-related crimes might become more intense!
Through support from United Nations (UN) Trust Fund to end violence against women, Eswatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) partnered with the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO) to support the training of the Judiciary.
This information was revealed during a workshop event held over the weekend in Manzini the training was the training was conducted by the Registrar and Principal Magistrates.
According to SWAGAA, the purpose of the training is to help with operationalization of the SODV Act, 2018 regulations of 2021. Furthermore the partnership will help with the Sensitization of court clerks on the new prescribed manner of recording and dealing with complaints with the audience.
SODVA is the acronym for Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act.
When speaking on the partnership, DPMO’s Communications Officer Mihla Khumalo said the office has always been part of every initiative that seeks to eradicate violence against women and children.
He further said there a number of existing campaigns and partnerships between the DPMO and SWAGAA.
“The DPMO has always explained that the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 2018 were enacted to protect everyone including children in addition to the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act of 2012. It further highlighted that, to protect children from all forms of violence, government has also put in place pieces of legislation including the Computer Crime and Cyber Crime Act of 2020,” said Khumalo.
On a press statement published on June 16, 2022 for the Day of the African Child commemoration, the DPM Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku said the Children’s Consortium acknowledged progress on policy and legislative interventions such as the SODV Act 2018, the Child Protection and Welfare Act 2012, the National Children’s Policy and the development of the Foster Care Guidelines amongst others. The consortium further stated that these milestones reflect the Government of Eswatini and partners’ commitment to realizing the aspirations of Agenda 2040 which include eliminating harmful practices affecting children.
