MBABANE – Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Pholile Shakantu has today presented Eswatini’s Third Cycle Report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
“May I reaffirm the Government of Eswatini’s commitment to respect, promote and protect human rights. Eswatini further commits to ensure a conducive environment for the enjoyment of the fundamental rights and freedoms by emaSwati,” the minister said.
She continued: “This review is taking place at a time when the Kingdom is currently experiencing a number of challenges. Despite these challenges, Eswatini has taken strides in advancing SDGs and human rights in different thematic areas since the last review.”
The minister Shakantu stated that since the last review, several progressive legislations have been enacted to domesticate the various human rights conventions ratified by the country.
“These include: The SODV Act of 2018 and operational regulations adopted in 2021, The Persons with Disabilities Act of 2018, The Public Order Act of 2017, and The Election of Women Members to the House of Assembly Act of 2018,” she said.
“Other important legislation recently enacted by Eswatini include The Police Service Act No. 22 of 2018 and the Correctional Services Act No. 13 of 2017,” she said.
The minister explained that these statutes prohibit Law Enforcement Officers from inflicting torture and other forms of cruel, inhumane and degrading forms of punishment or treatment.
She said the Kingdom has also amended the Suppression of Terrorism Act No. 03 of 2008.
“The amendment narrows the definition of ‘terrorist act’ and further provides for judicial review of a Ministerial Order designating certain organizations as proscribed entities,” she said, adding that the Kingdom established a Law Reform Unit to improve the efficiency of domesticating international instruments and harmonizing the laws with the Constitution. She stated that Eswatini is progressively moving towards honouring its reporting obligations. “To systematically coordinate the preparation of these reports and following-up on recommendations from various human rights mechanisms, in 2020 Eswatini established a permanent National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow-up Committee with a full-time Secretariat,” she said.
