Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report, including the 1997 education statistics.

1. The Committee notes the Government's statement that education and training opportunities in Swaziland are open to both sexes. The figures supplied indicate that, in 1996, 46 per cent of the students at the University of Swaziland were women. The Committee notes, however, that the participation of girls and women is extremely low in technical and vocational training institutes, particularly in non-traditional occupations. It notes that, in 1997, only three out of 106, or 0.03 per cent, of the students at the Vocational and Commercial Institute Matsapa (Voctim) were women. Women made up 23 per cent of the student body at the Swaziland College of Technology in the 1997-98 academic year, and were concentrated predominantly in secretarial and educational courses. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure women's equal access to vocational training and occupational guidance, including promoting women's access to non-traditional jobs and occupations.

2. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee once again requests that the Government provide information on the specific measures taken or envisaged to encourage girls and women to obtain their "O" level qualifications, a prerequisite for application for student grants and training courses for public sector employment. The Committee again expresses its hope that the report outlining pre-service training for the public sector will be available in the near future and that the Government will provide information in its next report on the number of men and women admitted to these courses. Further, with reference to its previous request, the Committee asks the Government to supply information on the follow-up given to the draft public service legislation to the extent that it relates to the principle of non-discrimination contained in the Convention.

3. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report regarding the Swaziland Committee on Gender and Women's Affairs (SCOGWA). The Committee requests the Government to supply a copy of SCOGWA's Gender and Women's Issues Position Paper which served as the Swaziland Platform for Equality, Development and Peace. The Committee further notes the formation of a gender issues taskforce and the establishment of a gender unit within the Ministry of Home Affairs whose main objectives include the introduction of gender mainstreaming throughout all sectors of national development. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to keep it informed concerning the activities of the above agencies, as well as concerning other practical measures adopted or under consideration to implement the Convention.

4. The Committee reminds the Government that its reporting obligation under the Convention extends to all grounds of discrimination covered in Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention. It notes the comments of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination concerning new forms of racism against ethnic minorities in Swaziland and stressing the need to implement education programmes geared to combating racism (CERD/C/SR.1209). In this connection, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information, including statistical data, on the situation of ethnic minorities in Swaziland, particularly the Zulu from the former KwaZulu-Natal and the Tonga.