MBABANE – Government is pushing for better planning and budgeting to safeguard the rights of children in Eswatini.
This came during the Day of the African Child commemoration held this morning at the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office boardroom. The event, hosted in partnership with UNICEF and the Children’s Consortium, ran under the theme “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights.”
Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla said national plans must be inclusive of children’s needs and backed by solid, transparent budgeting in sectors such as education, health and protection. She reminded the nation that the Constitution mandates child protection and said it should remain a top national priority.
“Children’s rights are not optional,” she said. “Families, communities, and government must all play their part in building a future where every child is safe and supported.”
The chairperson of the Children’s Consortium, Nelsiwe Nhlabatsi, pointed out that while Eswatini has made strides in areas like free primary education, many children still drop out before completing school. She called for more collaboration in understanding and addressing the causes of child vulnerability.
“Too many children disappear from the system after enrolling. We need to ask: where are they going?” she said. “This requires a collective response from all sectors.”
UNICEF’s Country Representative, Amina Mohammed, reminded those in attendance that child welfare is a national responsibility, not a gesture of goodwill. She called on stakeholders to treat children’s needs as core to national development.
“Every child is a gift. Supporting them is not charity; it is our duty,” said Mohammed, adding that UNICEF will continue working with government to tackle child poverty, dropouts and violence.
The commemoration brought together government officials, civil society leaders and international partners committed to putting children at the heart of national planning.
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