BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MBABANE– The pursuit of justice and dignity was declared a “shared responsibility” on December 10, 2025, as national stakeholders, international partners, and government officials gathered at the Mbabane Theatre Club to commemorate International Human Rights Day.
The event was hosted by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, through the Eswatini Commission on Human Rights & Public Administration/Integrity (CHRPA), and held under the theme: “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials”. A distinguished panel led a rich and insightful discussion providing an overview of the year’s milestones, challenges, and ongoing efforts to strengthen human rights, accountability, and good governance.
The Commissioner of the CHRPA, Zwelethu Mnisi, stated that the commemoration serves as a powerful reminder that the pursuit of dignity, freedom, and justice is a shared responsibility, echoing across generations. The Commissioner emphasized that the theme underscores that human rights “are not mere ideals to be aspired to, but are essential components of our daily lives”. He added that these rights underpin our safety, our participation in society, and our shared humanity.
In remarks delivered on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs by Principal Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Justice, Dorcas Dlamini, the core message was reinforced. The Minister’s remarks emphasized the theme, stating that human rights “are not optional extras but essentials of our daily living, a daily bread for a just society”. She added that rights “must never remain abstract ideals. They must be lived realities, anchored through the machinery of the state”. The PS then strongly urged Emaswati to embrace Buntfu, the core Eswatini concept of humanity, kindness, and respect for others.
The Ministry acknowledged its commitment to strengthening the CHRPA, with the Minister’s remarks stating, “I pledge the Ministry’s continued support to the Commission as we work towards a Paris,compliant Human Rights Institution”. To advance this goal, the Ministry has worked on critical legislation: the Leadership Code of Conduct Bill has been tabled before the House of Assembly with successful public consultations completed in late November, and the Human Rights & Public Administration Bill, 2025, received Cabinet approval and is anticipated to be tabled in Parliament very soon.
The significance of the national dialogue was reinforced by the presence of the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Eswatini, Karsten Mecklenburg, who noted that human rights are the “foundation of peace and stability”. The Ambassador stressed that events like the Human Rights Day gathering are particularly important because “all these stakeholders come together to discuss and share”. He added that the work on realising human rights is a “day,by,day and shared effort”. Furthermore, Mecklenburg mentioned that the EU, under the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, will address challenges through a new project on human rights awareness and multi,stakeholder dialogue that will start in a few months in collaboration with the HR Commission and civil society organisations. He closed by stressing the need to “work together to promote and protect human rights in Eswatini because without access to human rights, there is no justice, there is no peace, and no sustainable development”.
The commemoration confronted several critical challenges facing the nation, including land disputes, abuse of power, exclusion of the youth, those living with disabilities, gender,based violence (GBV), and the abuse of the LGBTQ group. During the discussions, key solutions recommended included bringing back a strong family structure and urging men to lead and take responsibility to avoid raising children in ‘disfractining’ (disfunctional) households, and infusion of youth and females in chiefdoms councils to promote inclusivity and modern governance.
Panel discussions were an integral part of the event. Acting Chief of Zombodze, Phatsakahle Dlamini, commended the CHRPA for its notable improvement in its work and offered a recommendation for its future efforts. Neli Zwane, also from the CHRPA, stressed the indispensable role of synergy, stating that collaboration is the vital tool for successfully bringing diverse stakeholders together to combat pressing human rights challenges.
The Commission reported significant recent milestones since its appointment in May, including:
- Conducting assessments of critical human rights concerns, notably the situation at St Joseph’s School for the Blind.
- Demonstrating commitment to meaningful intervention in the prominent Mbondzela evictions case, where the official relocation of some affected families to new homes was witnessed just last week.
The CHRPA also extended gratitude to its development partners, particularly the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union (EU), for consistently providing valuable technical and financial support.
The International Human Rights Day commemoration served as a critical platform to move beyond abstract ideals, focusing instead on tangible, collective action. By reinforcing the urgency of implementing human rights legislation, embracing Buntfu, and promoting multi,stakeholder collaboration, the event successfully strengthened the national resolve to address social injustices and ensure that dignity remains an everyday essential for every Eswatini citizen.
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