……The DPM URGES MORE PEOPLE TO SIGN
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– The Eswatini Gender Based Violence (GBV) Charter is a national initiative by emaSwati, for emaSwati, to make a lifelong pledge to end GBV within every sphere of their lives, and more people have joined the campaign and signed the charter.
As GBV remains one of the most widespread and persistent violations of the rights of women and girls in the world, a pledging charter was developed in the country where people sign and pledge to not commit any act of GBV.
The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku has also urged the public to sign the charter, highlighting that showing commitment to the initiative also helps with character building.
“The alarming statistics call for action where everyone, including the government, has an active role to play in eliminating GBV in Eswatini,” he said.
The charter currently has over a thousand signatures and the target is 2 500 signatures
“Have you noticed the surge in Gender-based Violence cases in the country? It has increased so rapidly that we can no longer keep quiet about it. This is a trend that is frightening and one that must come to end. So, what are you going to do about it, sign the register,” said Masuku.
Worth noting is that GBV, is one of the most prevalent human rights abuses in the world, and in Eswatini. In June 2018, Eswatini made great strides in the fight against GBV when the SODVA was enacted into law- a momentous occasion that the Embassy community had supported in various forms.
This legislative win moved the needle in the right direction, yet more needs to be done, more practical steps to ensure gender equity in Eswatini. The Eswatini GBV Charter is a crucial part of the next steps towards this goal. The DPM mentioned that the charter is a tool a hugely important tool to take action against the rising tide of GBV. Every line of this pledge describes a way each of us can personally commit to ending GBV. We all have a role to play in ending GBV, by seeing it, calling it out, and declaring violence unacceptable in all its forms.
Courtesy Pics of Eswatini GBV Charter.
