Early day motion · EDM 1614 · 7 Jul 2025
Democracy and human rights in eSwatini
Tabled by Kim Johnson (Labour)
11 signatures
The motion
That this House recognises the widespread human rights abuses committed under the autocratic Tinkhundla system of government in eSwatini since the dissolution of the constitution in 1973; notes erosion of democratic institutions, trade union rights, and civil liberties, including the banning of all political parties such as the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO); further notes the crackdown on rights, including freedom of expression, press, health, education, gender, and LGBT equality; condemns the violent repression of civic protests, particularly the deadly crackdown of June 2021; supports the demands of PUDEMO, the Multi-Stakeholders Forum (MSF) and the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland for a repeal of the 1973 Decree, the lifting bans on political parties, trade union rights, freedoms of association and assembly, the return of political exiles, the release of political prisoners and an end to state violence against activists; also notes the 2021 ITUC report finding eSwatini in violation of 10 of 16 Commonwealth Charter principles; calls on the UK Government to work through the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to investigate these breaches and ensure enforcement of the Charter; and calls on the Government to support an independently mediated national political dialogue for democratic transition, and an independent investigation into the assassination of human rights lawyer and former PUDEMO Secretary General, Thulani Rudolf Maseko, and all deaths linked to the 2021 unrest.
Signatories (11)
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Kim Johnson
Primary sponsor
7 Jul 2025 -
Zarah Sultana
7 Jul 2025 -
Nadia Whittome
7 Jul 2025 -
Steve Witherden
7 Jul 2025 -
Brian Leishman
8 Jul 2025 -
Mary Kelly Foy
8 Jul 2025 -
Lorraine Beavers
8 Jul 2025 -
Ian Byrne
8 Jul 2025 -
Rachael Maskell
11 Jul 2025 -
Apsana Begum
15 Jul 2025 -
Martin Rhodes
15 Jul 2025
Source: the official Early Day Motions database.