Gender Based Violence is the most prevalent human rights violations especially against women and children.

The most unfortunate part is that it happens in the places where women and young girls are supposed to be protected at all costs, that is at home, school, work, church etc. Furthermore, it is done by the most trusted people like significant others, family members, teachers, pastors, and friends.

While gender-based violence is not limited to violence against women and girls, according to World Health Organization’s (WHO) data from 2021, almost one in every three women, have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence or both at least once in their lifetime. This does not account for the 1 woman every 11 minutes who is killed by her partner (UNODC, 2020).

These are not just figures but lives of people that are known and loved by their families and communities which they live in, like all people they have dreams and  aspirations, more than anything women also have same human rights as men. Gender Based Violence and femicide has reached unprecedented levels in the country and this is a matter that we can no longer ignore.

We have in recent times seen a spate of killings of women and children and these horrific incidents defy comprehension. There is really no words to describe them. They simply tell a story about our society that is deeply disturbing. A story of a nation at war with itself and the power to turn this tide lies with us as a Nation. The time to sweep these issues under the rug is over. We have to stop Gender Based Violence, Now.

In every part of society, in every workplace, in every school and college or university, in every government department, in every municipality, in every community, serious engagement between all population segments, including the elderly, men, women, youth and children is needed on the issue of Gender Based Violence. Special engagement must be focused to boys and young men to develop masculinities that value respect, understanding and accountability.

We all must make a conscious decision to need re-weave the social fabric, so we become a society that is nurturing, caring, respectful and in which the human rights of all Emaswati are protected. I genuinely believe that in all backgrounds, in our respective roles, and in our respective genders, male or female, we have different roles to play.

I believe it is high time we take the issue of gender parity seriously. Whilst we are empowering the Girl Child it is imperative to understand that she still has to coexist with the boy child, hence, This will definitely entail reaching out with empowerment programmes for the boy child because the empowered girl still needs the not so empowered boy and that disparity is huge source of Gender Based Violence and related conflicts.  This is the most needed investment that we need to start preparing for to have a future where the men is not intimidated by the empowered woman, which result to him defaulting to physical power which the woman can’t match.

As a municipality, we join the country in the 16 Days of Activities drive against Gender Based Violence. We commit to working towards making Manzini a Gender Based Violence free city.

Internally we have established a staff wellness programme to provide the much needed employee assistance programmes- including mental health and counselling services. Employees to report on issues of GBV, and referrals are made for further address whenever necessary.

My sincere gratitude and thanks goes to the various Government departments, Royal Eswatini Police Service (Manzini Police Station),civil society organizations and other stakeholder who have worked and continue to work with the municipality to eradicate GBV in our city. I would also urge our residents to use the One-Stop centre for GBV located inside the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) hospital to report and get services and general information on GBV.

I must admit that the journey towards completely eradicating this pandemic will not be an easy one. I also do believe that if we unite and start having these uncomfortable conversations and break the gender stereotypes and social norms that aggravate Gender Based Violence, we will definitely conquer. We must allow ourselves to unlearn some of these negative norms to re-learn new ways of treating and valuing both genders in our societies.