The Australian Volunteers Program strives to provide a safe, supportive and equitable environment for LGBTQIA+ volunteers, approved accompanying dependents, partner organisations and all program staff. The Australian Volunteers Program has supported queer volunteers in all program countries and has ongoing connections with community organisations in many countries and regions in which the program operates.
This guide introduces a snapshot of the local context for queer and gender diverse people. LGBTQIA+ program participants must be aware of the country context before undertaking an assignment. If you are an LGBTQIA+ volunteer, you will need to:
- do your own research and understand what the local law says you can and can't do when in-country
- follow the local laws, even if you disagree with them
- be aware of the legal protections for LGBTQIA+ people in your destinations
- consider if you’re comfortable living and working in a place where you may not be able to live as openly as you can in some parts of Australia.
Language
Terminology may differ across urban and rural contexts, provinces or ethnic and cultural groups. Information sourced online can be outdated or inaccurate. For current and accurate information, please confirm with an appropriate civil society organisation (CSO) or ask your in-country team.
Legal and policy context
Sodomy between men is outlawed under common law, however there are no prosecutions on record.
The Eswatini Constitution outlines that the state must 'ensure gender balance and fair representation of marginalised groups' but LGBTQIA+ people are not mentioned. The Constitution enshrines a wide range of rights, including fundamental freedoms, freedom from discrimination, right to privacy, and protection from degrading treatment. The right to administrative justice was the basis of a 2023 case regarding the registration of Eswatini sexual and gender minorities, proving the judiciary’s willingness to hear LGBTQIA+ matters and providing jurisprudence for a broad interpretation of the protections in the Constitution.
There is currently no legal mechanism for transgender or gender-nonconforming people to amend sex markers on government-issued documentation.
Discrimination
Currently, no specific legal protections exist for LGBTQIA+ people in Eswatini. Like many countries, there is no constitutional protection and national laws against discrimination of LGBTQIA+ people in Eswatini, or laws that protect against LGBTQIA+ discrimination in employment, or laws that protect against hate crimes, incitement to hatred, violence or discrimination based on one’s sexual or gender identity.
Cultural and societal attitudes
Religious, social and cultural norms play a critical role in discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people in Eswatini. Conversion therapy is practiced within some religious communities. These include deliverance rituals, ‘healing’ ceremonies and communal prayers. Some churches prohibit LGBTQIA+ people from their place of worship.
Several CSOs are working to promote and protect queer rights in Eswatini, including Eswatini Sexual and Gender Minorities; House of Our Pride; The Rock of Hope; and TransSwati. Pride events have been held since 2018, with some disruptions due to the COVID pandemic and restrictions on public demonstrations. In 2024, a Pride event was held in Manzini.
Homo/transphobic stigma, discrimination and exclusion are common in Eswatini. Many LGBTQIA+ people are reluctant to disclose their identities due to a fear of violence or rejection. Restrictive gender roles also make it difficult for LGBTQIA+ emaSwati to be open about their gender or sexuality with family. According to a recent survey, only 28 per cent of respondents identified relatives as a source of support. However, respondents in Eswatini were more likely to be out to relatives and be included in family events than respondents in the other countries.
Although most religious groups in Eswatini are conservative, some faith leaders have adopted a more inclusive position. The most well-known is Bishop Zwanini Shabalala, Secretary General of the Council of Swaziland Churches. Religion and culture are very important to many LGBTQIA+ emaSwati. Various CSOs have held dialogues, workshops and sensitisation trainings with faith communities.
Attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ people appear to be shifting. A recent large-scale study by The Other Foundation found overwhelming support for equality and legal protection for all emaSwati.
Health and wellbeing
Eswatini has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection in the world. To combat this, the government has ensured universal access to care and treatment for groups deemed to be most vulnerable.
Eswatini’s National Multisectoral HIV and AIDS Strategic Framework has long recognised MSM as a key population. The country’s PrEP program has been scaled up in recent years and is offered to eligible, HIV-negative people who are at substantial risk of acquiring HIV. This includes MSM, Sero discordant couples and transgender people.
While condoms are distributed widely by the government to curb HIV/AIDS amongst heterosexual couples, there is no availability or distribution of other safer sex barrier devices, such as dental dams or finger condoms.
There are CSOs, INGOs and humanitarian agencies working to promote comprehensive sexual healthcare for LGBTQIA+ people in Eswatini. This includes sensitisation of frontline workers, community outreach, mobile testing and psychosocial support. These efforts rely on international donor funding. The US government’s decision to freeze PEPFAR funding in January 2025 will seriously undermine the queer community’s access to inclusive and affirming healthcare.
Schools in Eswatini do not teach lessons on gender-based violence or LGBTQIA+ themes '[d]ue to the cultural sensitivity of Swaziland.'
Media
Rights violations and abuses targeting LGBTQIA+ people are underreported in mainstream news outlets. This is partly due to the political, legislative, and sociocultural climate and partly due to a lack of knowledge among media professionals. Local and regional CSOs have run sensitisation trainings with media professionals. While this has led to a slight improvement in the depth and quality of reportage, it continues to be difficult for journalists to publish or broadcast through local channels. Most coverage of LGBTQIA+ issues in Eswatini comes from international media outlets.
Research and contributions provided by John Marnell, African Centre for Migration and Society.
The Pride Guides were developed in 2022 and updated in 2025 by consultants and experts based in countries in which the program operates.
