Eswatini
Eswatini is a landlocked nation situated at the eastern border of South Africa. Covering a total area of 17,360 km² (6,703 mi²), the country is home to an estimated population of 1.2 million as of 2024. Eswatini's landscape is primarily characterized by veld, featuring grasslands dotted with shrubs and bushes. A significant portion of Eswatini's population, with forty-three percent falling between the ages of 0 and 17, and adolescents aged 10-19 accounting for a quarter of the total populace. Child protection is a critical concern in Eswatini, with violence being the predominant issue affecting children in the country. According to the 2014 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), an alarming 88% of children aged 1-14 experienced some form of psychological or physical punishment by household members within the preceding month.
A host of protection issues affects children in Eswatini; however, violence is, by far, the most-prominent child protection issue in the country. The 2014 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) estimated that 88% of children aged 1-14 years experienced at least one form of psychological or physical punishment by household members during the previous month. Inadequate parental care warrants greater focus as it exacerbates vulnerabilities compromising with the child protection. It is also a major underlying factor in adverse outcomes related to children and adolescents in other sectors. Sentiments expressed by children underscore the violence-gender equality nexus and serve as a clarion call for gender equality efforts to engage both males and females of all ages. However, child marriage is not as prevalent in Eswatini as it is in other countries in the Africa region.
Religious demographics in Eswatini indicate that approximately 90% of the population are Christians, while around 2% are Muslims, many of whom are not part of the Swati ethnic group, which is the majority ethnic group in the nation. The remaining individuals belong to various other religious groups, including those that follow Indigenous African beliefs.
The country's constitution prohibits religious discrimination and guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This includes the right to worship privately or publicly, as well as the freedom to convert to a different religion or belief. Laws in Eswatini support religious practices that serve the public interest, military, public safety, morals, health, or the preservation of others' rights.
According to the constitution, religious institutions have the autonomy to establish and oversee their own private schools and to provide religious education to their students without interference from the government. Religious leaders in Eswatini play a vital role in advocating for children's rights and protection. They have the authority and reach to educate their communities on children's rights, challenge harmful cultural traditions, and offer assistance to vulnerable children.
The moral guidance and influence of religious leaders can help shape societal values and beliefs, fostering a culture that values and safeguards children. By collaborating closely with religious leaders, there is potential to shift societal attitudes towards prioritizing children's rights and protection.
In Eswatini, there is an opportunity for collaboration between religious leaders and the Eswatini National Children's Coalition (ENCC) to increase awareness about child rights issues, push for policy reforms, and rally communities to safeguard children from psychological or physical harm, child marriage and violence.
