English - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

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1.13 ROLE OF NGOs IN EMPOWERING WOMENNon-Governmental Organisations such as the Lesotho Federation of Women Lawyers(FIDA), Women and Law in Southern Africa Research Trust (WILSA), Lesotho NationalCouncil of Women (LNCW) and the Community Legal Resource and Advice Centre(CLRAC) are engaged in counselling and assisting victims and survivors of violence.Some of the organizations hold workshops throughout the country. The objective is toeducate the women on the laws, which discriminate against them, and on Children'sRights. Brochures and simple written material in the local language (Sesotho) areproduced. They also provide legal aid and render legal advice to Lesotho women. Someof them disseminate education to the society and educational institutions. Some of thepublications are on inheritance, maintenance, widows and family, to mention, but a few.There are other Non - Governmental Organizations, which have been instrumental inarticulating a call for women's participation in the economy. Most of them promotewomen's interests by starting income-generating projects for the members. Some of themenlighten women about economic, health and educational issues concerning them and thecommunity at large. Further, they assist women, who intend to go into business, toproperly set up and operate successful business ventures.1.14 HIV/AIDS EDUCATION AND AWARENESSThe Lesotho National Council of Women and other affiliates of the Lesotho Council ofNon-Governmental Organisations are particularly active in AIDS prevention andeducation programmes. Other NGOs in this field include the Lesotho Red Cross Society,the Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, the Christian Council of Lesotho, CareInternational, the Catholic Secretariat and Christian Hospital Associations of Lesotho(CHAL). These organisations have formed the Lesotho Network of AIDS ServiceOrganisations (LENASO). AIDS education is vital, because the pandemic is spreadingat alarming rate.These NGOs are engaged in AIDS education programmes through workshops. They alsocarry out programmes on dissemination of information through newsletters, brochuresand drama. Statistics reveal that women are more vulnerable to the disease than men,therefore, in these workshops and conferences, the target group is women, based on thereported cases from health clinics and hospitals. For further information refer to article4 here-in.23
1.15 STEPS TAKEN TO PROTECT FAMILY COHESIONThe Constitution provides for the right to respect for private and family life. Section 1 to(the Constitution reads thus:-(1) Every person shall be entitled to respect for his private and family life and hishome.(2) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to beinconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law inquestion makes provision.(a) in the interest of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or publichealth, or(b) for the purpose of protecting the rights and freedoms of other persons.(3) A person shall not be permitted to rely in any judicial proceedings upon such aprovision of law as is referred to in subsection (2) except to the extent to which hesatisfies the court that, that provision, or as the case may be, the thing done underthe authority thereof does not abridge the rights guaranteed by section (1) to agreater extent than is necessary in a practical sense in a democratic society in theinterests of any of the matters specified in subsection 2 (a) or for purpose specifiedin subsection 2 (b).The marnitge Act No. 10 of 1974 provides in the preamble that the Act is intended tomake pros is ion for the solemnization and registration of marriages, thus protecting theinstitution of the family that result from such marriage.Section 3 of the act provides that no person may be compelled to enter into a contract ofmarriage with any other person or to marry against his wish.Presently under both the common law and customary law, upon marriage in communityof property, the husband acquires marital power over the person and property of his wiand the wife thus becomes a minor under the guardianship of her husband. This is notthe case, where marriage is proceeded by an ante nuptial contract, where the maritalpower of the husband is excluded. The husband has full contractual capacity and canbind the joint estate with his contracts. The wife can only enter into contracts with theconsent of her husband. The wife's limited contractual capacity extends to on lyhousehold necessaries.2
Page 2 and 3: ERRATAThe following spelling errors
Page 4 and 5: Title PageTABLE OF CONTENTSTable of
Page 6: Article 8(Freedom of conscience, re
Page 9 and 10: The Government, i.e the Monarchy, E
Page 11 and 12: Lesotho's newly found democracy did
Page 13 and 14: With all these powerful enemies ( o
Page 15 and 16: Total of estimated population censu
Page 17 and 18: 1.9 BASIC DOCUMENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Page 19 and 20: Now that three years have passed ev
Page 21 and 22: In particular it was pointed out in
Page 23 and 24: participate hi the elections;• el
Page 25 and 26: The Government and Independent Poli
Page 27 and 28: The Department of Social Welfare is
Page 29 and 30: Several children are found abandone
Page 31: A revision has been made to this re
Page 35 and 36: The Motheris Union is an Anglican S
Page 37 and 38: The Council of State is made up of
Page 39 and 40: _--..■■••••Arramr•r",
Page 41 and 42: In accordance with section 4 of the
Page 43 and 44: circumstances of the case-(a)(b)(c)
Page 45 and 46: also increased among children from
Page 47 and 48: of a holistic approach to child hea
Page 49 and 50: of Lesotho Liberation Army, victims
Page 51 and 52: imprisonment;(2) Any Chief or Publi
Page 53 and 54: (1)(2)if a parent or guardian of a
Page 55 and 56: (3) Any person who is arrested or d
Page 57 and 58: ( statistics on such cases have not
Page 59 and 60: and free from interference and subj
Page 61 and 62: admissible in evidence against such
Page 63 and 64: interference, freedom to receive id
Page 65 and 66: Section 7 further empowers the Regi
Page 67 and 68: ARTICLE 12The constitution provides
Page 69 and 70: (i)to perform such other functions
Page 71 and 72: (vi) in consequence of any law with
Page 73 and 74: According to Section 30 of the Cons
Page 75 and 76: 1997 - 2001 UNICEF/GOL programme of
Page 77 and 78: In addition to governmental efforts
Page 79 and 80: This issue is of concern to many NG
Page 81 and 82: oadening of the democratic process
Page 83 and 84:
Lesotho is a member of the United N
Page 85 and 86:
in section 33, which provides:With
Page 87 and 88:
Consequently, the government of Les
Page 89 and 90:
adopted an action plan of all the r
Page 91 and 92:
The Courts shall, in the performanc
Page 93:
I esoiho Cabinet Decisions:Cabinet
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English - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

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