HRDs of Eswatini attend the Human Rights Council 41st session

Civil society of Eswatini participates at the Human Rights Council

Published on 18 Jul 2019, 09:21 AM

CSOs from Eswatini advocate for women's rights at the Human Rights Council 41st session - June 2019

Tenele Mkhabela, Phumelele Dlamini and Caterina Carmassi at the Human Rights Council session

CCPR in partnership with COSPE, SALC and FSEJ, facilitated the participation of two women human rights defenders - Tenele Mkhabela, from SOS Children's Villages Eswatini, and Phumelele Dlamini, of Swaziland Domestic Workers Union - nominated by the women and LGBTI rights cluster of their country, at the 41st session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva (24-28 June 2019). The visit was possible thanks to the support of the State of Geneva and the EU Delegation in Swaziland.

The purpose of this visit was to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations of Eswatini to engage with UN mechanisms, notably with the Human Rights Council and Special Procedures. Previously, the Centre and COSPE had supported Eswatini's civil society's engagement with the Human Rights Committee.

"After having attended this event, we are now aware of the importance of engaging with the Human Rights Council and we are committed to follow-up in the future disseminating the new knowledge with other civil society organisations of Eswatini"

- Tenele Mkhabela and Phumelele Dlamini

Among the major objectives of the mission was the presentation of an oral statement on violence against women in Eswatini during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Mrs. Dubravka Šimonovic. The statement highlights the most urgent needs of the Swazi women and the root causes of the persistent widespread violence against women in the country.

The oral statement was presented on June 28^th 2019 and it has been disseminated on social media in Eswatini through the live streaming of the UN web TV, receiving a positive welcoming from the Eswatini civil society.

The delegates also had the opportunity of personally delivering the research produced by the project “Alignement of ESwatini domestic laws with recommendations of United Nations human rights mechanisms” to some key-states representatives during the Council’s session.

Moreover, the delegates participated in a wide range of thematic plenary sessions of the Human Rights Council and side events on a broad range of topics, understanding how to interact and engage with the UN human rights mechanisms. They were also part of fruitful conversations and debates with other representatives of the civil society, exchanging advocacy strategies.

Civil society of Eswatini participates at the Human Rights Council

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