Relatives, mothers worst abusers

MANZINI - Most survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) reported their relatives and mothers to Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) as the worst abusers.

About 62 relatives out of 217 cases that were reported in January take the lead in the cases.

They made up 29 per cent of all the reported cases in that month alone.

Coming as the first runners-up, mothers, were pinned for 20 per cent as reported for perpetrating abuse. This is after 43 cases were reported on them.

After mothers came fathers at 14 per cent. There were 31 cases against fathers.

They were then followed by the exes; first the ex-husbands (12 per cent), ex-boyfriends (11 per cent), ex-wives (six per cent), ex-girlfriend (five per cent), and lastly neighbours for two per cent.

While the highest numbers of reported cases are those of verbal or emotional abuse, the next of kin, including relatives and mothers are also at their highs.

In January, 84 per cent cases reported were those of verbal abuse and they were reported by females. Males reported 30 per cent of the cases in comparison.

Neglect was also reported whereby females reported 22 per cent cases while males reported 13 per cent.

Nineteen per cent of women reported sexual abuse against only one per cent of men.

Women also reported physical abuse by 13 per cent, while for men it is two per cent.

Eleven per cent was reported by women as financial abuse against four per cent reported by men.

“Concerning the perpetrator profile, there were 118 male perpetrators and 93 female perpetrators reported and six incidents where the sex of the perpetrator was not stated,” SWAGAA report stated.