The United States has restored trade benefits
for Swaziland that were withdrawn because of human rights violations.
Swaziland, which is ruled
by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, lost assistance
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in January 2015 due to
concerns over restrictions on the freedoms of peaceful assembly, association,
and expression.
AGOA allows countries to
export goods to the United States tariff-free.
Swaziland has not been
given a clean bill of health by the United States. A statement issued by the US
embassy in Swaziland said the kingdom had been reviewed and priorities for the
future had been suggested, ‘including but not limited to eliminating child
labour and promoting women’s protections’.
Swaziland was suspended from
AGOA after it failed to meet five
benchmarks, including full passage of amendments to the Industrial
Relations Act; full passage of amendments to sections 40 and 97 of the
Industrial Relations Act relating to civil and criminal liability of union
leaders during protest actions; and establishing a code of good practice for
the police during public protests.
The five benchmarks have
still not been fully met, although progress has been made on passing
legislation.
The Trade Union Congress of
Swaziland (TUCOSWA) has said it was good that legislation had been passed but
the kingdom still had to implement them.
TUCOSWA acting Secretary
General Mduduzi Gina, was reported by the Swazi
Observer (28 December 2017) saying they hoped there would be no hitches
when it came to practical implementation of the enacted laws.
The United States continues
to have grave concerns about the state of human rights in Swaziland. In its
most recent annual report on the matter covering
2016, the US State Department stated, ‘The principal human rights
concerns are that citizens do not have the ability to choose their government
in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot; police use of
excessive force, including torture, beatings, and unlawful killings;
restrictions on freedoms of speech, assembly, and association; and
discrimination against and abuse of women and children.
‘Other human rights
problems included arbitrary killings; arbitrary arrests and lengthy pretrial
detention; arbitrary interference with privacy and home; prohibitions on
political activity and harassment of political activists; trafficking in
persons; societal discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and intersex community and persons with albinism; mob violence;
harassment of labor leaders; child labor; and restrictions on worker rights.’
See also
UN
PROBES SWAZILAND ON HUMAN RIGHTS
SWAZILAND FAILS HUMAN RIGHTS TEST
SWAZILAND
QUIZZED ON TERROR LAW
SWAZI
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD KILLS AGOA
SWAZI
TERROR LAW COURT CHALLENGE
SWAZI
GOVT FAILS ON POVERTY: OXFAM
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