Make Every Woman Count - Promoting the Empowerment of Women and Girls in Africa

The Kingdom of Swaziland has an estimated population of 1.2 million (UN, 2010). The capital is Mbabane. Swaziland has an area of 17,364 sq km (6,704 sq miles). The major languages are Swazi, and English (both official).

Considered as the world's last absolute monarchy, Swaziland became independent in 1968 from the British. The king has absolute power and political parties are banned.

Swaziland is said to have the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. Women tend to have higher risk of HIV/AIDS than men. Despite the country's new constitution, which provides for equal treatment of men and women, the latter still face the struggle for their equality. Violence against women, such as domestic violence and rape, is widespread.
 

• Swaziland signed the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Maputo Protocol) on the 7th of December 2004 but has not ratified it.
  
• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was ratified by Swaziland on the 26th of March 2004.
  
• Swaziland has not yet adopted a National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325).
• There are no former or current UN peacekeeping mandates in Swaziland.

Source: BBC, AlertNet, CIA, UN, SIGI,