‘Lesotho lacks strategy for essential programmes’

MOSA MAOENG
MASERU – Lesotho lacks sustainable strategies to ensure that essential programmes like the National Children’s Parliament are maintained and advocated for effectively. This concern was voiced by Member of Parliament and Social Cluster Chairperson Mokhothu Makhalanyane in a recent interview with Public Eye.
His remarks came in the wake of the National Children’s Parliament session hosted last Friday by the Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development through the Department of Social Development — Child Protection Services, in collaboration with World Vision Lesotho and UNICEF Lesotho.
The Children’s Parliament in Lesotho is among several initiatives aimed at creating a safe, protective, and violence-free environment for children. Since its inception in 2011, there has been a notable improvement in addressing issues affecting children, along with the evaluation and amendment of child protection laws.
However, Makhalanyane said Lesotho still lacks sustainable strategies to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of such programmes.
He highlighted the challenge of a “domesticated vision,” where the country often fails to turn models into actionable visions. Additionally, he noted that when implementing budgets, there is a lack of gender responsiveness.
“The gender responsiveness will ensure that issues of child abuse and minority groups are given more attention,” he said. He referred to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report highlighting the neglect of programmes that help children sustain their lives from childhood into adulthood.
Alarmingly, the report revealed that Lesotho has the highest suicide rate in the world, with 87.5 deaths by suicide per 100,000 people, compared to the global average of one per 100,000. Efforts to address these challenges include various initiatives supported by World Vision Lesotho.
The Community Engagement and Sponsorship Plan Technical Programme Manager at World Vision Lesotho, Motlatsi Taaka, outlined several efforts made in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development. These include the establishment and capacity building of Community Council Child Protection Teams in seven districts and 17 Community Councils where World Vision operates.
They have also strengthened the capacity of formal and informal child protection actors, including faith leaders, to tackle the root causes of child vulnerability.
Taaka elaborated on their efforts: “We have trained 315 faith leaders and 619 community policing members, supported capacity building for seven district child protection teams, and organised sensitisation campaigns to end violence against children, including child marriages and the initiation of young boys.”
World Vision has also worked to ensure the effective implementation of child protection laws and policies by disseminating these laws to local communities and raising awareness of key legislation, such as the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act (CPWA) and the Marriage Act of 1974, which prohibit marriage before the age of 18.
Further efforts by World Vision include advocating for amendments to the Child Protection and Welfare Act of 2011 to criminalise child marriage and support the Ministry of Gender in translating the Counter Domestic Violence Act of 2022 into local languages.
They have also focused on providing life skills and value-based education through the implementation and monitoring of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) clubs in partnership with local clinics.
“Through these efforts, we have reached 34,000 children on online safety and promoted norms and values supporting non-violent, nurturing, and gender-equitable relationships,” Taaka said.
He also noted the challenges faced, including lack of political will to amend child protection laws, high rates of school dropouts due to economic factors, teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse in schools, and inadequate budget allocations for child protection issues.
The recent National Children’s Parliament session provided a significant platform for 50 child advocates to contribute to public debate and influence decisions affecting their lives.
The session also allowed key stakeholders, policymakers, and decision-makers to hear first-hand the concerns of children. This year’s theme, “Education for All: Challenges Facing Well-being and Development of Children in Lesotho,” underscored the importance of addressing the myriad challenges facing children in the country.
While Lesotho has made strides in improving child protection through initiatives like the National Children’s Parliament, sustainable strategies and greater political will are essential to ensure these programmes’ long-term success and effectiveness.
The collaboration between government entities and organisations like World Vision Lesotho and UNICEF is crucial in driving these efforts forward and creating a safer, more supportive environment for Lesotho’s children.