9 399 GBV CASES REPORTED IN 9 MONTHS

NHLANGANO – There were 9 399 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) reported in the country from January to September this year. 

This was contained in a presentation for statistics of violence experienced by emaSwati as the country was celebrating Human Rights Day yesterday.

Yesterday also marked the last day of the ‘16 days of Activism Against GBV’ campaign and members of the youth had an indaba where they were discussing the role they could play in eliminating violence. 

The statistics reflect that there were 2 525 cases reported in the Hhohho Region followed by Lubombo Region with 2 273 while the Manzini Region had 2 920 and 1 681 from the Shiselweni Region between January and September this year. 

The indaba was held yesterday at NATICC offices in Nhlangano. 

It started with a march demonstration where the youth was carrying placards with messages calling for an end to GBV. 

Part of the discussions were about how the youth could engage each other in ensuring that they reported cases of abuse and developed a culture of being a violence-free generation. 

Present youth members stated that they wanted to be represented in positions, including in Parliament so that they could be involved in law making and not just be consulted. 

Present in the meeting were Members of Parliament (MPs), who shared ideas with youth from their constituencies and advised on mapping a way forward. 

In an interview with Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS) Communications Officer Phila Nhlabatsi, he stated that they had been going from one region to the other engaging people about issues in the past. According to Nhlabatsi, they targeted youth between 10 to 24 years of age. 

He said they discovered that most youths knew about the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act, though they felt it was not being implemented in some cases. 

On the other hand, Shiselweni Regional MP Nokuthula Dlamini said they were happy with the initiative and that it was important to be a part of it as it spoke to grooming a generation that knew about GBV. 

“If the children get the lessons now, government is guaranteed that as we try to stop the older generation from violence, the coming one will not do it at all as they know better about it,” she said. 

Alarming

Shiselweni Regional Secretary Zwakele Dlamini stated that the number of reported cases was alarming, adding that there was a need for such dialogues. 

 He stated that chiefs were also supposed to join in and talk about issues of violence in their chiefdoms.

Speaking on behalf of the youth, Nosihle Dlamini said it was shocking to learn that so many people had experienced violence in the country.

She said she learnt that they had a role to play in the country to bring violence to an end.

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