STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER OF MINISTRY OF LAW, CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO MS. POLO CHABANE AT THE 59 TH SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES RIGHTS 21 OCTOBER 4 NOVEMBER 2016, BANJUL, THE GAMBIA. 1
CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION HONOURABLE COMMISSIONERS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN It gives me great honour and privilege to address the 59 th Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights at this august gathering. The Government holds high esteem of the African Commission which continues to stand with the millions of people around the African continent and the world, whose voices are denied. MADAM CHAIRPERSON Lesotho received the joint urgent appeal letter from the Commissioner Rapporteur on the Human Rights Situation in Lesotho, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in Africa, regarding the shooting of the editor of the Lesotho Times newspaper. The letter has been duly responded to. The Government condemned these acts and will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators are brought before the courts of law. Lesotho remains committed to the process of maintaining the prerequisites of democracy, rule of law and good governance. The Government is dedicated to achieve the principles of gender equality and non-discrimination as presented in regional and international human rights instruments. The Government through the Ministry of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation, Ministry of Social Development and Civil Society Organizations 2
are engaged in campaigns on ending child marriage a problem mostly encountered by girl children in Lesotho. The campaign will run until 2017. This year, during the commemoration of African Women s month, the Ministry of Gender focused on sensitising the public on harmful traditions and customs on women and girls, as well as lobbying for eliminating such practices. At the 27th African Union Summit held in Rwanda from 17-18 July 2016, Lesotho won 2016 African Gender Award as one of the continent's top performers in the advancement of the economic and social rights of women. MADAM CHAIR In conformity with, amongst others, the Kampala Declaration on Prison Health in Africa and UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, the Lesotho Correctional Service has established a health section comprising of a HIV/AIDS Coordinator, Nursing Officers, Nursing Sisters, Nutrition Officers, Health Inspectors and Pharmacy Technologists. In the Female Correctional Institution, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission is provided and both ante-natal and post natal care is administered. The Sexual Reproduction Health programme was launched in September 2015. There is access of Anti-Retroviral Treatment for all inmates including foreigners and support teams have been formed in most Institutions. There has also been training for youths and juveniles on HIV and AIDS and life skills through the support of UNICEF. 3
MADAM CHAIR Plans to set up a Human Rights Commission which will complement the primary role of Government as a responsible agency for the promotion, protection and reporting of human rights are underway. In June 2016, the Human Rights Commission Act was passed and in August 2016, Regulations which spell out the appointment process of the Commissioners were also passed. This was done to cater for some concerns that were raised by Non-Governmental Organisations that the procedure of appointments was not transparent. In conclusion, I would therefore like to reiterate Lesotho s commitment to working in cooperation with the African Commission towards attaining a continent that is free of human rights violations, where the rule of law and democracy as spelled out by the various regional and international human rights instruments, prevail. I THANK YOU. 4
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