disappearance, violence and widespread persecution”; and as of May, at least 57,000 of them were registered as refugees in Ethiopia, having fled their homes. FORCED LABOUR The use of mandatory indefinite national military service persisted, as well as the forced labour attached to it, sometimes amounting to slavery. In his report to the UN Human Rights Council in June/July, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea said he had received information about “heavy round-ups” of conscripts in August 2022. Up to November 2022, the army used “coercive practices to force individuals to participate in military action in Ethiopia”, and families were forced to hand over their relatives, including children. Reports of torture and other ill-treatment and sexual violence continued in conscript camps. The Special Rapporteur reported that former women recruits of the Sawa military training camp said that camp officials carried out rape and other forms of gender-based violence against female conscripts. Many young people were forced to spend their final secondary school year at the Sawa military training camp, making it difficult for them to complete their education. ESWATINI Kingdom of Eswatini The authorities enjoyed impunity for attacks on human rights defenders and activists, and failed to investigate the unlawful killing of Thulani Maseko. Rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly were routinely violated. Opposition activists and dissenters faced unfair trials and harsh punishment. The right to health was restricted. Hundreds faced forced eviction. The government refused to allow an LGBTI rights group to register despite a supreme court ruling. The State of the World’s Human Rights BACKGROUND Parliamentary elections were held in August and September. A 1973 decree banning political parties remained in place, under which only independent candidates can run for election. King Mswati III held ultimate authority over all branches of government. UNLAWFUL ATTACKS AND KILLINGS In January, human rights lawyer and activist Thulani Maseko was assassinated in his home. Despite condemnation and calls from the international community to conduct a transparent, independent and impartial investigation, the government has made no progress towards ensuring accountability for the killing. Thulani Maseko was killed weeks after attacks were carried out on human rights lawyer Maxwell Nkambule, and Penuel Malinga and Xolile Dlamini-Malinga, both members of the banned opposition party, People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). The authorities failed to investigate these, and other unlawful attacks and killings carried out since the government launched a brutal crackdown in response to pro-democracy and anti-police brutality protests in 2021. They also failed to bring to justice suspected perpetrators and ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ASSOCIATION AND ASSEMBLY The authorities continued the persecution of members of the Swaziland Transport, Communication and Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU) for organizing national strikes in 2022 to demand improved working conditions and political reform. Trumped-up charges of contempt of court were brought against SWATCAWU and two other labour unions; and in January the Royal Eswatini Police Service issued an arrest warrant for SWATCAWU’s general secretary, Sticks Nkambule. Routine threats, intimidation and harassment by security forces led him to flee into hiding. On 25 January, police violently repressed student protesters in the city of Manzini, and 165