Eswatini has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Eswatini has integrated the recommendations from its last Voluntary National Review (VNR) in 2022 into the current National Development Plan (2022/23 – 2027/8) and has reported significant progress towards clean water and sanitation, energy, environmental sustainability as well as good health and well-being and gender equality, including for populations “left behind” such as women and young girls.
Despite these efforts, Eswatini continues to face substantial challenges, including in strengthening decent work and economic growth and reducing inequalities. Also, challenges continue to exist in achieving gender equality in law and policy and in addressing gender-based violence, including for marginalized populations such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and other gender-diverse (LGBTQI+) populations and sex workers. This report highlights critical gaps in Eswatini’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda, with a focus on the equality, health and socio-economic rights of marginalized populations such as LGBTQI+ communities and sex workers.
This submission focuses on key targets under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well- Being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). It draws on recent data, including findings from the 2023 People Living with HIV Stigma Index and the 2021 Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (IBBSS), amongst others, to illustrate how stigma, discrimination, violence and legal barriers continue to prevent LGBTQI+ individuals and sex workers from achieving relevant SDG targets— ultimately undermining Eswatini’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and its pledge to “leave no one behind”.
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