One Billion Rising advocating for bodily autonomy
MANZINI – One Billion Rising is advocating for bodily autonomy, urging the government to amend restrictions that hinder citizens from exercising their sexual and reproductive health rights freely.
During learning and sharing media briefing held at Family Life Association’s (FLAS) premises yesterday, One Billion Rising Director Xolani Hlatjwako highlighted the organisation's milestones since its inception and shared its objectives with the media.
One Billion Rising is a global movement that is aimed at ending violence against all women and girls. In Eswatini, the organisation is working under a fully registered organisation called Journey of Hope for Girls and Women in Eswatini, a feminist-based organisation which is focusing on giving hope to survivors of violence. Over the past 10 years since One Billion Rising Eswatini was established in Eswatini, it has contributed to advocating for gender equality, respect for human rights and calling for an end to violence against all women.
Meanwhile, Hlatjwako emphasised the need for the government to revise or relax restrictions that impede citizens' access to sexual and reproductive health services. For instance, she said delays in prosecuting rape cases often prevented survivors from accessing safe abortion.
Procedures
Moreover, the director said married women should not be required to obtain spousal consent for sterilisation procedures. She added that laws must be relevant to the current times and needs of the people.
“One Billion Rising also calls upon Parliament to enact pending bills, including the Amendment of Marriage Bill, Matrimonial and Property Bill, and the Legal Aid Bill, to ensure that citizens' rights are protected and their access to essential services is guaranteed,” she said.
Hlatjwako further emphasised the importance of achieving menstrual equity by recognising period poverty as a public health issue. She urged the government to ensure or advocate for affordable and sustainable menstrual products, including removing VAT/ tax on sanitary pads. Additionally, the director stated that promoting menstrual education and challenging the stigma and discrimination surrounding menstruation were crucial steps in achieving menstrual equity. Hlatjwako cited the recent incident of a student being publicly shamed for stealing sanitary pads as an example of the urgent need to address this issue. She said by prioritising menstrual equity, the nation could create a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals who menstruate. Addressing another pressing issue, Hlatjwako stated: "We cannot tolerate the brutal killings of our sisters, mothers, and daughters any longer – we have mourned enough, and it is time to take action." She emphasised the need to declare gender-based violence a national emergency, pushing for stronger measures to combat this pervasive problem.
Additionally, One Billion Rising aims to put an end to teenage pregnancy, advocating for comprehensive reproductive health education and access to resources that empower young people to make informed decisions.
Hlatjwako also highlighted the importance of utilising peaceful means to resolve conflicts and respecting human rights at all levels.
Evictions
Through these concerted efforts, she said One Billion Rising strived to create a safer and more equitable society for all. Hlatjwako expressed concern over the forced evictions of widows and orphans from their land at the community level. She explained that land disputes often disproportionately affect the most marginalised groups, such as women, children, and the elderly, leading to human rights violations. To prevent further injustices, Hlatjwako urged community leaders, particularly chiefs, to prioritise peaceful conflict resolution methods. By fostering a culture of dialogue and understanding, communities can work together to address disputes and ensure the protection of vulnerable individuals' rights. Through collaborative efforts, it is possible to create a more equitable and just society that respects the rights of all its members.
“We continue to call for freedom to equally participate in decision making positions. Corruption and toxic cultural practices have compromised women to have freedom to equally participate in decision making positions,” she alluded.
The director said the country needed to work towards creating more opportunities for the women and youth who were most hit by poverty to equally participate in all decision-making positions, as their voices were needed.
She raised a call to defend and embrace the rights of the LGBTQI community. “These are our sisters, brothers, children let us embrace them and accept that they exist and their rights must be respected. This means ensuring that laws, policies, cultural norms and practices, and religious beliefs are revised to ensure that we do not violate their human rights,” said Hlatjwako.
Meanwhile, the director said it was important to consider the global community and physical environment they were living in. She said the climate change crisis was real and it was showing the world that the human race had been extremely violent towards Mother Earth. She said this was seen in the extreme weather patterns.