Abuse is uncultural — King
HIS Majesty King Mswati III has warned the nation about abuse, citing that it is unswati and uncultured for people to engage in abusive behaviour.
His Majesty was speaking during the grand 21st Police Day celebration held at Matsapha Police Academy in Matsapha on July 5, 2024.
When addressing the police officers and over 5000 crowd, His Majesty called for an end to abuse, further applauding officers for working hard to eradicate abuse.
“It is uncultured for people to partake in abuse, we see the rise in abuse cases and it is concerning to see such. We now rely on the police officers to help put an end to this scourge,” said His Majesty.
The King further appreciated officers for putting their lives on the line and sacrificing their lives for the safety of the Nation.
Abuse is a global problem that is deeply rooted in cultural, social, and economic practices according to a report by the United Nations 2018.
The report states that all forms of abuse are increasing, meaning that safeguarding or preventing abuse and working to make those who experience it safe, likewise has increased to deal with the problem.
“Certainly, safeguarding as a concept and set of ideas about ways of working against abuse and protecting children has increased exponentially as an occupational and professional field in Europe, the USA, Australasia, and many other regions. However, we cannot assume this is because abusive activities have increased,” reads the report.
The report further states that culture is not an excuse for abusive behaviour.
“There are so many people these days that think these actions have something to do with culture, but it is not an excuse for culture at all. It is just degeneracy and dysfunction,” reads the report further.
In 2023, following a spate of killings between partners in the country at the time, resulting in women's rights activists called for such a scourge to be declared a national disaster. His Majesty King Mswati III came out to condemn Gender-based Violence (GBV) in the country.
He said there was no amount of bad deeds between partners to warrant the killing of the other.
This came amid shocking statistics that were revealed by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) that there have been 147 murders and 133 suicides recorded within a space of 10 months in 2023.
Furthermore, this was shortly after six people died due to GBV within a space of two weeks. This forced the law enforcers, REPS, and His Majesty's Correctional Services (HMCS) to also spring into action and engage in gender violence and femicide (GBVF) awareness campaigns.
His Majesty said fighting the scourge cannot be reliant on policing interventions alone, especially as most incidents unfolded in private spaces, out of the reach of the police, hence, a multi-stakeholder approach for every partner to make interventions that will coalesce to an effective response was needed.
He further warned members of the public against ignoring abuse and violence when they see it occurring, but that they should intervene, through reporting to the police or other agencies involved in the fight against the scourge.
It is uncultured for people to partake in abuse, we see the rise in abuse cases and it is concerning to see such. We now rely on the police officers to help put an end to this scourge.
Continued from Page 1 Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent Nosipho Mnguni revealed that abuse cases in the country were rapidly increasing.
Mnguni said they were working closely with Community Police to fight the scourge in rural areas where most abuse cases happened and went unreported.
“In the last three months, we have seen an increase in the abuse happening in the country. We continue to urge families, communities, and the Nation at large to help us fight this scourge that is slowly eating away at us,” said Mnguni.
During the celebrations, police officers displayed daring and dazzling talent in how they fight crime, and one of them was fighting abuse. The Royal Eswatini Police Service's elite riders, both male and female, put on a breathtaking display of talent and agility.
The riders began by saluting their Majesties, setting a tone of respect and dedication, and performing an array of stunning manoeuvres, including riding in formation with others perched on their shoulders, a testament to their exceptional balance and teamwork.
The performance also included intricate circle formations, showcasing their coordination and control. Their impressive speed and agility reflected the ‘Nkwe' mandate, emphasizing the importance of strength and swiftness in law enforcement.
A highlight of the display was a daring act where riders, facing backward and upside down, demonstrated extraordinary skill and confidence.
This thrilling performance captivated the audience, leaving an indelible impression of the riders' expertise and commitment to excellence.
Government launches Violence Against Children and Youth Survey Report
Eswatini has made remarkable strides in reducing violence against children on September 12, 2023, the Government launched the report of its second Violence Against Children and Youth Survey ( VACS), 15 years after the launch of its first survey in 2007.
Data from the 2022 VACS reflects remarkable progress in the reduction of violence against children and youth. The survey reveals that in the last 15 years, Eswatini has seen: A fall in lifetime sexual violence among girls aged 1324 from nearly one in two girls to fewer than one in ten (48.9% to 8.1%), a fall in childhood sexual violence among girls from more than one in three girls to one in twenty (37.7% to 5.5%) There was also a significant increase in HIV testing and knowledge of HIV status.
In 2007, Eswatini was the first country to undertake a VACS. The first of its kind, the survey focused on sexual, physical, and emotional violence against girls and young adult females between the ages of 13 and 24.
The troubling results and subsequent mobilization by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini showed the power of using data to inform action, taking important steps in preventing violence against children in just 15 years.
A recent study involving over 1,200 parentteenager pairs revealed important reductions in levels of harsh parenting, specifically corporal punishment.
Reductions in corporal punishment are often accompanied by an improvement in teen wellbeing, including less substance misuse and better school and HIV outcomes.
PLH for Teens is an example of the many initiatives that were implemented in Eswatini after the first VACS in 2007 and that have contributed to reducing violence against children and adolescents in the country.