- It is an initiative that is contributing to other initiatives that are already in place in society
- The American Bar Association and government are on an enormous outreach throughout the country and many have signed the charter
Mbabane-The American Bar Association in collaboration with the government of Eswatini is engaged in a Gender Based Violence (GBV) campaign called the “Eswatini Gender Based Violence Charter; ending GBV together.” Its objective is to create awareness about the pervasive and prevalent nature of the scourge of GBV in the country.
Delivering her address at the Eswatini Post and Telecommunications headquarters, the Project Coordinator of the American Bar Association in Eswatini, Lomcebo Dlamini said “the Eswatini GBV Charter is for all Emaswati and will assist individuals do something positive about the scourge.”
“There was a lot of research done by all stakeholders during the drafting of the charter and the different people that the stakeholders interact with create a ripple effect that ultimately reaches a large number of people.”
“It is an initiative that is contributing to other initiatives that are already in place in society. Unfortunately, there still continues to be an increase in GBV. A personal and consciences effort must be made by all individuals that will lead to communities as a whole combatting the perpetration of GBV.”
The American Bar Association and government are on an enormous outreach throughout the country and many have signed the charter. This is so that a generation of GBV free citizens can be raised.
It must be noted that the level of intimate partners violence is also on the increase.
Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Managing Director, Themba Khumalo reiterated that the issue of GBV is a very important subject. He noted however that there is an emphasis on “Ekwakheni Emadvodza” whereas there needs to be a balance between the different gender types. “The Eswatini society is a hybrid society with all genders and furthermore there is a need for an intergenerational approach to GBV.”
Before signing the GBV Charter, Khumalo said “nonetheless this is a very good initiative. The Emaswati culture was very conscious of this and there were structures within the cultural environment that dealt with this. The GBV Charter should seek to embrace the cultural structures and good values that were in place and that define us as Emaswati.”
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