official name: Swaziland
capital: Mbabane
independence: 1968 ( From UK )
president: King MSWATI III
population: 1.1million
language: Siswati & English ( Official )
currency: lilangeni
religion: 20% Roman Catholic, 10% Muslim
homosexual status: Illegal
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Swaziland
Gay sex rife in prison
 09
August 2007- Swaziland- Homosexuality, rape and other forms of sexual
violence in prisons have been cited as the main factors causing the high HIV
infection rate in African prisons...more
Constitution mum on
gays, lesbians
14 April 2006- Swaziland- Unlike the South African and Zimbabwean
Constitution, the country’s Constitution is silent on gays and lesbians
(homosexuals), South Africa lawyer, Thandi Orleyn observed...more
Swaziland Constitution
may include gays
17 Mar 2006- Gays and lesbians may be considered for inclusion in
the country’s constitution. This was disclosed by the Deputy Attorney
General Mzwandile Fakudze at King Sobhuza II Memorial Park yesterday
during the capacity building workshop for Members of Parliament. they
were discussing about the rights of people...more
Homosexuals Left Out In
Constitution
14 Feb 2006-
The gay community in Swaziland is worried that the new constitution does
not address their rights. They believe it is too general about their
rights as it only addresses freedom of expression and opinion.
A gay socialite, whose identity is deliberately withheld, told this
newspaper that he was disappointed that Swaziland seemed not to
recognise gays.
"The truth is we are here and it won't help to pretend as if we don't
exist. I believe we should also be protected because we are also human
beings. We need to be recognised," he stated.
The socialite said he found it difficult to tolerate the attitude most
Swazi’s had towards homosexuals.
"I'm afraid to speak up just because some people may victimise me. I
think the constitution needs to address our issue because homosexuals
are there and that's a fact," he said, adding that it was time the
country introduced gay-friendly places, where they could freely mingle
with their friends without fear of victimisation.
The socialite said it was sad that the country seemed to be behind in
terms of human rights, adding that the clause about protection of the
right to freedom of opinion and expression was contradictory with what
it contained about homosexuals in the proposed Sexual Offences Bill.
The Bill calls for the arrest of homosexuals.
Comment could not be obtained from Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Minister Prince David or other relevant authorities.
Swaziland Government warns homosexuals or sodomy are liable to
imprisonment.
26.11.2005-
Even though such practices are fully legal in some African states like
neighbouring South Africa, where practitioners are even protected by that
country’s constitution and openly hold gay pride marches, the local Bill
prohibits such practices and proposes very stiff fines for those found to
have contravened such laws.
According to the
Bill, any person, be it a male or a female, who intentionally, with or
without consent, commits or continues to commit a sexual act with another
person of the same sex, or causes another person of the same sex to commit
a sexual act with another person of the same sex or with a third person of
the same sex, is guilty of an offence of homosexuality.
Any person convicted
of an offence of homosexuality, be it lesbianism or sodomy (sex between
two men), is liable to imprisonment for a minimum period of two years, or
to a minimum fine of E5 000 or to both. If the persons convicted are two
consenting adults, they will be liable to imprisonment.
If a person commits
either sodomy or lesbianism to a child under the age of 16 years, such a
person is guilty of rape and will be punished in terms applicable to the
rape crime, which can include the death penalty if the victim ended up
contracting HIV and Aids during the ordeal.
This issue may set
tongues wagging as a homosexual society is slowly emerging from their
closets in the country.
It is also said that
in a democratic society, consenting adults have all the right to engage
into sexual activity of their own orientation, as long as they do not
influence other people and do it in the privacy of their homes.
The big problem in
this one is the fact that the country’s constitution is silent over such
matters, a fact that may pose serious problems in the future, as such
minorities like gays and lesbians may cry foul, saying their right to
equality before the law was being trampled upon by such a law, that is if
the Bill is passed according to the sources.
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