The 2007 National Human Development Report’s focus on HIV and AIDS and culture is timely as our

nation searches for a way out of this crisis. Swaziland is regarded as a country that has combined

modernity and tradition in the implementation of its governance framework. As culture and traditions in

our country are to a great extent, regarded by many as sacrosanct, the consequences of the HIV and AIDS

crisis compels us to think outside the box. The report seeks to provide insights on the interface between

culture and contemporary society with the goal of identifying interventions that assist national

stakeholders at all levels to effectively address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It must be noted that behavior

change is at the core of preventive approaches to combating the pandemic. Behaviour is to a great extent

influenced by culture. It is therefore essential that our culture vis-à-vis HIV and AIDS be interrogated

with a view to identify cultural practices that reinforce positive behavior towards combating HIV, and

eliminate those negative practices and attitudes that undermine such efforts.