This was during the HIV Prevention Indaba that was held at the Royal Swazi Convention centre.

Mimi Nkonyeni-Khumalo, of the Swaziland National Youth Council (SNYC), was speaking on behalf of the women's wing during the presentation of recommendations by all the attendants.

She said women reserved the right to choose what they can use to satisfy their sexual desires. Therefore, as women, they saw no valid reason why they were being deprived of their inviolable right to choose.

"Parliament must allow the use of sex toys because it is the right of women to choose," said Khumalo, much to the applause of the crowd.

Meanwhile, on the other hand, women also recommended that Swazi culture should be documented to prevent misconceptions held by the Swazi populace. She said this was primarily because there were positive aspects and perceptions that are held by traditionalists that could help immensely towards the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

"There is a very urgent and high demand to document all cultural views in

the country," said Khumalo, emphasising the urgency of the issue among women.

The presentation session was the favourite among the close-to 400 attendants of the HIV Prevention Indaba yesterday. Each of the seven wings of the dialogue was given seven minutes to make recommendations and also enunciate matters of urgency in the country.

The indaba, which lasted two days, was hosted by the Swaziland National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA), in partnership with various Non-Governmental Organisations to get views from the public regarding HIV/AIDS in Swaziland.

The National Director of NERCHA Derek von Wissell, said he also noted the plea by the women's wing, but said that it was as a result of sexual dissatisfaction in most relationships.

"Sex toys would not be needed if women were sexually satisfied by their sexual partners. The lack of sexual satisfaction also contributes to the acceleration of multi-concurrent sexual partners in the kingdom," said von Wissell during the close of the indaba yesterday. (Times of Swaziland).