CRC/C/SWZ/CO/2-4

Eswatini (CRC 22 October 2021)

The Committee considered the combined second to fourth periodic reports of Eswatini1 at its 2547th and 2548th meetings, 2 held on 15 September 2021, and adopted the present concluding observations at its 2562nd meeting, held on 24 September 2021.

Concluding observations on the combined second to fourth
periodic reports of Eswatini

C. General principles (arts. 2–3, 6 and 12)

26. While the Committee notes the prohibition of all forms of discrimination in the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act, it remains concerned:

(a) That several pieces of legislation that have the potential to provide vulnerable children with protection against discrimination have not yet been passed into law, such as the marriage bill, or are lacking regulations, such as the Persons with Disabilities Act of 2018;

(b) About the discrimination against certain groups of children, particularly girls, children living in poverty, children with disabilities, children with albinism, orphans, children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, refugee children, asylum-seeking children and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children.

27. Taking note of target 10.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Committee reiterates its previous concluding observations10 and recommends that the State party:

(a) Expedite the adoption of the marriage bill and the regulations for the Persons with Disabilities Act;

(b) Strengthen its efforts to eliminate discrimination and stigmatization against groups of children in marginalized and disadvantaged situations, particularly girls, children living in poverty, children with disabilities, children with albinism, orphans, children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS, refugee children, asylumseeking children and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children, including by developing policies and addressing the root causes of de facto discrimination;

(c) Conduct comprehensive public education and awareness-raising programmes, including campaigns, to combat and prevent stigmatization of and discrimination against children in vulnerable situations.