Tortured, Abudcted, Killed : this is the fate the innconet pople of Eswatini are facing right now. In lieu of the pro-democarcy protest sweeping the streets of Eswatini, protestors and innocents are being abducted for their “tretorious” ways agasint the royal family. As we know Eswatini is one of the last absolute onarchies in the world. An absolute monary is a govenremntal system where the monarch in charge has complete say and power over laws and its people. Right now the citizens of this country are tired of the oppression by the royal family and are protesting to change to a democracy. The citizens are prtsting for basic human rights. At least 20 preotestors have been killed, 150 serisly hospitalized, and more. 

This is a cry for help from Eswatinis people over their oressive gomernt. Alhouthg there is not much coverage on this, many articles have said the same things. Citizens are finally advocating for themselves in getting the basic human rights. There has been no intervetin from other ocuntires so far. Becus there has been little to no coverage on this; the people of this circumstance have dubbed it The Silent Genocide. 

Background

In pre-colonial Africa women had authority as they were main agricultural producers. This changed however when farming declined in its importance. Women lost their authority and their roles in society. Under apartheid non-white women experienced oppression and were held at the lowest position in the social hierarchy. Gender discrimination was very present under apartheid and under traditional law women were denied the right to own land and the right to custody over their children. This mix of colonialism and apartheid ideologies classified women as second-class citizens.

Discrimination

In South Africa’s first democratically elected government in 1994, non-discrimination was a key aspect. The new government adopted a “gender-equality” stance on decreasing discrimination and signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Section 9 (3) of their constitution states “The state may not discriminate against anyone using any of the following; race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic group, social class, skin color, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious belief, culture, tribe etc”.  Multiple laws and acts were put in place to reduce gender discrimination in the post-apartheid era of South Africa. 

Key Laws and Acts Relating to Gender Discrimination:

1.) The Commission of Gender Equality – monitors issues of gender in civil society.

2.)he Office on the Status of Women – Responsible for mainstreaming gender in government departments.

3.) The Women’s Budget Initiative (WBI) – examines the implications of the national budget on women.

4.) The Labour Act of 1995 – includes a Code of Good Conduct that compels workplaces to have formal sexual harassment policies in place

5.) The Basic Conditions of Employment Act – ensures that there is a minimum requirement for maternity leave which includes ante-natal, post-natal and family responsibility leave.

While a lot has been done for the rights of women in South Africa, there is still a lot more improvements that can be made. For example, employment discrimination is still prevalent as many women find themselves either excluded from the job market or restricted to the lowest paying jobs. Poverty and unemployment are also big drivers of sexual assault against women and South Africa’s HIV epidemic. Many women believe that prostitution is the only way for survival, and they are very unlikely to ask for sexual protection which increases the possibility of contracting HIV. Women are often infected more than men.

Women’s Movements and Groups

1.) Federation of South African Women

2.) Women’s March

3.) National Women’s Monument

Hello Everyone! As we all know climate change is a pressing matter for all countries right now. We are racing to solve problems we have been ignoring for years, but how does climate change affect one of the world’s last Absolute monarchies? Let’s see.

In this post I will be covering the climate data from the years 1991-2020, which is a fairly  operative time of today.

In this graph alone one can see that the average max temperatures from 1991 have risen from an average of 25C and 26C, to heavily displaying records of the average max temperature for the year being 26 C and above.

Eswatini is at risk of hydrometeorological hazards and natural disasters. These disasters are pointing to lay more effect on the agricultural front for this country. These disasters induced flooding, m periods of mass drought, violet storms, epidemic disease, and forest fires. The drought is obviously a sustainable problem due to the fact that Eswatini is experiencing  severe food insecurity and needs all the yields they can get, and face father challenges in trying to receive aid. 

But how do all of these factors and impacts connect to climate change? For one according to eh IPCC, “human induced-climate change is already affecting many weather and climate experts words the globe.” Not Only this but the rising temperatures and the rising sea temperatures lead to more water vapor in the atmosphere which is just a light to gasoline for hurricanes and heavy storms/rains. All in all climate change is a leading factor to these said natural disasters.

To reel it all in let’s look back at the question at hand: How is climate change affecting Eswatini?

The answer to that is simple, the evident climate change is cursing a rise in natural disasters that leave Eswatini with agricultural shortages and a whole country. Climate change leaves yet another household food insecure, and without basic needs. Climate change is not only worsening the quality of life in this country, it is running all over the way of life and keeping Eswatini’s people from getting necessities. 

“World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.” Summary | Climate Change Knowledge Portal, https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/eswatini

“World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.” Vulnerability | Climate Change Knowledge Portal, https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/eswatini/vulnerability. 

.Jazmin Mason

What does the Constitution say about reproductive rights?

Sexual and reproductive health rights are enshrined in section 27 of South Africa’s constitution stating that “everyone has the right to access health care services, including reproductive health care”.  These laws guarantee access to sexual and reproductive health services. The country’s rate of death from unsafe abortion has even dropped 90% since the passing of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act in 1996. However, many women still face challenges getting safe, legal abortions and the country’s maternal mortality rate remains very high. South Africa also still has high rates of HIV and unintended pregnancies. Ibis Reproductive Health found that “One in three women aged 15-24 experiences an unintended pregnancy before the age of 20 and among females aged 15 to 24, HIV incidence is more than four times higher than the incidence of males in the same group”.

So why do so many women still seek out dangerous and illegal abortions?

While sexual and reproductive rights in South Africa are protected by the constitution, 30% of South African women still don’t know that they have a right too safe, legal reproductive health services, including abortion. Other reasons range from desperation and not knowing where to go for a safe abortion to perceived judgement by their communities and medical staff. There are also concerns regarding confidentiality and cost.

Why improving reproductive health services  is important