…with calls for action and unity
Seithati Motsoeneng
THE nation marked this year’s International Women’s Day with renewed calls for gender equality, justice and concrete action to address the persistent challenges faced by women and girls across the country.
Leaders from the government, civil society, the private sector and international organisations gathered at AVANI Maseru this week to reflect on progress made and the work that still lies ahead in ensuring women’s rights are protected and advanced.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nthomeng Majara, highlighted the strides Lesotho has made through legislative reforms aimed at promoting gender equality. She cited laws such as the Disability Equity Act, Anti-Trafficking Act, Domestic Violence Act, as well as reforms to inheritance and marriage laws designed to dismantle long-standing structural inequalities.
However, she acknowledged that despite these legal frameworks, implementation remains a major challenge.
“Passing good laws on paper is not enough if they are not effectively enforced and coordinated,” Ms Majara said.
She called on all sectors to work together to bridge the gap between policy and practice, noting that gender-based violence, child marriage and femicide continue to threaten progress.
She pointed to alarming statistics showing that gender-based violence remains widespread, with some reports estimating that about 42 percent of women have experienced some form of violence. She also highlighted the economic cost of such violence, which is estimated to cost Lesotho about M1.9 billion annually through lost productivity, healthcare expenses and social services.
Ms Majara stressed that addressing these issues requires collective effort, adequate resources and a strong legal and social justice framework.
She further emphasised the need to empower young women and girls, recognising their critical role in shaping the country’s future.
“They are our renewable energy, our future leaders,” she said, urging young people to continue pushing for gender equality.
Meanwhile, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Taija Kontinen, underscored the importance of the global theme Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls.
She said she was honoured to join Lesotho’s champions of gender equality early in her tenure and expressed admiration for the resilience and achievements of Basotho women.
Ms Kontinen highlighted the country’s high enrolment of girls in secondary education, noting that about 1.6 girls are enrolled for every boy — a significant milestone that demonstrates the potential of Lesotho’s female youth.
She also stressed the need to include the most vulnerable groups — including women with disabilities, adolescent girls and rural women — in gender equality initiatives.
Ms Kontinen reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to supporting Lesotho through programmes aimed at preventing gender-based violence, expanding reproductive health services and promoting women’s leadership in all sectors.
Vodacom Executive Head of External Affairs and Regulatory, Tšepo Ntaopane, said the time for talk was over and called for decisive action to address the high prevalence of gender-based violence.
He said if future generations are to grow up in a world free from gender-based violence, stakeholders must move beyond discussions and take concrete steps to eradicate the problem.
