There are an estimated 6,700 people in Swaziland living in
slavery, according to a global
survey.
And, the response by the Swazi Government to the problem is
‘inadequate’, according to report publishers, the Walk Free Foundation, a global human rights organisation dedicated to ending modern slavery.
The Global Slavery Index 2014 estimates that in Swaziland, ‘The government response to modern slavery is
inadequate, with limited and/or few victim support services, a weak criminal justice framework, weak coordination
or collaboration, while little is being done to address vulnerability. There are government practices and
policies that facilitate slavery. Services, where available, are largely provided by IOs/NGOs with little government
funding or in-kind support.’
The report said, ‘Modern slavery involves one person possessing or controlling
another person in such as a way as to significantly
deprive that person of their individual liberty, with the intention of exploiting that person through their use, management,
profit, transfer or disposal.’
It added, ‘Modern slavery is a
hidden crime. It takes many forms, and is known by many names: slavery, forced labour, or human traffcking. All forms involve
one person depriving another person of their freedom: their
freedom to leave one job for another, their freedom to leave one workplace for another, their freedom to control their
own body.’
This is the second annual Global Slavery Index. In 2013 it reported there were an estimated 1,302 people living in slavery in Swaziland. The reports publishers said
the increase in numbers from last year were probably due to an improvement in the
way information was collected, rather than an increase in slavery.
A separate
report, the 2014 Trafficking
in Persons, revealed that King Mswati III, who rules Swaziland
as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, uses forced child labour to work
in his fields. ‘Swazi chiefs
may coerce children and adults—through threats and intimidation—to
work for the king. Swazi boys and foreign children are
forced to labor in commercial agriculture, including cattle
herding, and market vending within the country,’ the report
from the US State Department said.
See also
SWAZILAND HAS 1,302 PEOPLE IN SLAVERY
SEX TRAFFICKING RIFE IN SWAZILAND
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