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‘...SD committed to combatting exclusion of marginalised’
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“In the Kingdom of Swaziland, orphans, the elderly, the destitute, street children, widowed women and people with disabilities are considered the most vulnerable social groups.”
This statement was made by the Kingdom’s Head of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations Joel Nhleko when he addressed the 48th Session of the Commission for Social Development under the theme, Social Integration in New York last week.
He stated that notwithstanding the existing challenges, in an effort to address socio-economic status of local social groups, the Swazi government had pursued policies aimed at combating exclusion, often with a focus on the most marginalised groups or individuals.
“”For instance, the government provides public assistance in the form of grants to the elderly, persons with disabilities, military ex-servicemen, orphans and vulnerable children OVC. Government also provides full financial assistance to OVC for school and examination fees,” he said.
He added that the government was also committed to the Madrid Plan of Action and therefore considered ageing as an important aspect of social development that had to be mainstreamed into all the relevant policies and poverty reduction strategies. Hence the old- age grants to the elderly.
Challenges
“One of the most visible challenges for Swaziland is the dramatic increase in the number of orphans and vulnerable children OVC mainly due to poverty and the HIV and Aids pandemic. Furthermore, due to the HIV and Aids the extended family system, which has historically absorbed such children has been overwhelmed and a new phenomenon of child- headed households has emerged ands is rapidly increasing.”
He mentioned that government then increased the OVC grant by 61.5%, to enable vulnerable children to access basic education.
Nhleko then told the session about the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan PRSAP, which was aimed at reducing poverty by more than 50% in the country by 2015 and eradicate it completely by 2022.
“This may sound like a very ambitious goal but it is attainable with lots of commitment,” he said.
“While we recognise the importance of the participation of the private sectors and civil society in the financing and delivery of social services, the government remains the primary provider of social services to its entire people.
For this reason, we call on our development partners for increased technical assistance as well as increased Official Development Assistance ODA in accordance with internationally agreed targets,” he said.
This statement was made by the Kingdom’s Head of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations Joel Nhleko when he addressed the 48th Session of the Commission for Social Development under the theme, Social Integration in New York last week.
He stated that notwithstanding the existing challenges, in an effort to address socio-economic status of local social groups, the Swazi government had pursued policies aimed at combating exclusion, often with a focus on the most marginalised groups or individuals.
“”For instance, the government provides public assistance in the form of grants to the elderly, persons with disabilities, military ex-servicemen, orphans and vulnerable children OVC. Government also provides full financial assistance to OVC for school and examination fees,” he said.
He added that the government was also committed to the Madrid Plan of Action and therefore considered ageing as an important aspect of social development that had to be mainstreamed into all the relevant policies and poverty reduction strategies. Hence the old- age grants to the elderly.
Challenges
“One of the most visible challenges for Swaziland is the dramatic increase in the number of orphans and vulnerable children OVC mainly due to poverty and the HIV and Aids pandemic. Furthermore, due to the HIV and Aids the extended family system, which has historically absorbed such children has been overwhelmed and a new phenomenon of child- headed households has emerged ands is rapidly increasing.”
He mentioned that government then increased the OVC grant by 61.5%, to enable vulnerable children to access basic education.
Nhleko then told the session about the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategy and Action Plan PRSAP, which was aimed at reducing poverty by more than 50% in the country by 2015 and eradicate it completely by 2022.
“This may sound like a very ambitious goal but it is attainable with lots of commitment,” he said.
“While we recognise the importance of the participation of the private sectors and civil society in the financing and delivery of social services, the government remains the primary provider of social services to its entire people.
For this reason, we call on our development partners for increased technical assistance as well as increased Official Development Assistance ODA in accordance with internationally agreed targets,” he said.
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