Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 - Swaziland
Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
Publication Date | 2004 |
Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 - Swaziland, 2004, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4988062828.html [accessed 27 May 2023] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Kingdom of Swaziland
Covers the period from April 2001 to March 2004.
Population: 925,0001
Government armed forces: unknown
Compulsory recruitment age: no conscription
Voluntary recruitment age: 18
Voting age: 18
Optional Protocol: not signed
Other treaties ratified (see glossary): CRC, GC AP I and II, ILO 138, ILO 182
There were no reports of under-18s in the armed forces.
Context
Food insecurity became severe following drought in the Southern Africa region in 2002. The government's human rights record remained poor. Child abuse and child rape remained serious problems, and the number of street children grew.2 Prevalence of HIV/AIDS was estimated at over 34 per cent of the population.3
Government
National recruitment legislation
Recruitment is regulated by the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Order of 1977. There is no conscription and the minimum age for voluntary recruitment into the armed forces is 18. Birth certificates are required to be produced and verified on enlistment.4
1 The Statesman's Yearbook 2004, ed. Barry Turner, Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
2 US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2003, February 2004, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/hr/c1470.htm.
3 UNICEF, At a glance: Swaziland, 2004, http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/swaziland.html.
4 Communication to Child Soldiers Coalition from the Commander, Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force, 25 March 2004.