Law reform for inclusion coming in Lesotho

The mountain kingdom of Lesotho will soon begin a process of reviewing and, where necessary, reforming national laws and policies as the country takes bold steps to ensure greater access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, HIV and Aids services for all her citizens.Recent outreach and oversight missions to various health and correctional facilities in parts of Lesotho exposed gaps in the country's SRHR, HIV and Aids response which were negatively affecting some citizens, especially key populations.The MPs and senators who belong to the Social Cluster, HIV and Aids and Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) committees in the National Assembly, met various people including sex workers and members of the LGBTI community. They then compiled reports which they shared during unprecedented roundtable discussions with ministers and permanent secretaries of relevant line government ministries here last week.In impassioned submissions, the lawmakers implored the ministers to take decisive steps to ensure that the rights of all citizens including key populations were upheld so that universal access to SRHR, HIV and Aids services becomes a reality.The justice minister Mokhele Moletsane immediately took heed and promised action. In an exclusive interview, he commended the lawmakers for undertaking the oversight missions and for sharing their findings.“This has been a very useful and important gathering where, as ministers, MPs, non-governmental organisations and government officials, we interacted on very important issues of HIV and Aids in relation to the so-called key populations,” he said.He added that the meeting had enabled stakeholders to better appreciate the work that the SADC Parliamentary Forum was doing in responding to the global HIV and Aids epidemic under the SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project that Sweden and Norway are funding in seven SADC countries including Lesotho.He said the reports had enabled him to better appreciate “the peculiar needs of prisoners, women and men who form a substantial part of the population in our prisons”.He added: “This was an eye-opener. We should always bear in mind that we don't talk only of females and males in our population. We should remember that there is the LGBTI community. As we provide services, we should remember that they are part of the nation. Like everybody else, they have rights.” Pressed on what needs to be done going forward, Moletsane was clear. “We should now embark on a rigorous transformation of our legal framework. We must come up with new laws to cater for key populations. We need new policies. Parliamentarians should embark on that rigorous reform to cater also for the needs of special groups within our institutions.” He said as a follow-up, he would invite all relevant stakeholders to his ministry “so that we embark on a review of any piece of legislation that needs to be repealed or amended so that we realise the rights of every citizen, especially prison inmates.”Asked what had struck him the most from the reports shared by the lawmakers, Molestane first took a deep breath before saying: “The realities in our communities and the level of our ignorance as a society. We know gay people exist, but we have never taken time to understand their special situation and their special needs.“We need to respond to these challenges, whether through the national budget or legal reforms. We can no longer ignore or pretend that these (key populations) do not exist. We have to act,” he said. He commended the MPs and senators for throwing light on matters that for long had been skirted. “They are determined to work and enlighten us. When it is done at this high level of governance, it says a lot. Parliament is taking its mandate seriously.” He said Lesotho was going through exciting times towards universal access to SRHR, HIV and Aids services. He called for all hands on board. “Let us join hands and look into the future so that we can celebrate being part of that change. As an individual and as an official of government, I am determined … to be part of those willing to bring about change,” he said.Moletsane said he was keenly alive to the challenges that lay ahead.“It is not going to be easy. We are a religious community but I am going to add my voice to numerous voices that are already advocating for change.”*Moses Magadza is Communications and Advocacy Specialist at SADC Parliamentary Forum. MOSES MAGADZA

Law reform for inclusion coming in Lesotho

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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Law reform for inclusion coming in Lesotho

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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