The bill would create a government-sponsored press council with regulatory and punitive powers, including licensing of journalists. Violations of an as yet undrafted media code of ethics could draw large fines against journalists and publishing houses. Freedom of religion is respected, and a variety of Christian sects operate freely. Nongovernmental organizations not involved in politics are also permitted. Several political groupings operate openly despite their official prohibition, but members are harassed and sometimes detained.
Swazi women encounter discrimination in both formal and customary law.
Married women are considered minors, requiring spousal permission to enter into almost any form of economic activity. Women are allowed only limited inheritance rights. Employment regulations requiring equal pay for equal work are obeyed unevenly. Violence against women is common, and discriminatory traditional values still great carry weight. Unions are able to operate independently under the 1980 Industrial Relations Act, although the International Labor Organization sharply criticized the government s labor policies in a 1997 report.