English - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

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In order to remedy the u I \ scenario, the Government is determined to retrain the securityforces and the police. b■ , way of in-service training and concerted human rightssensitisation mentioned herein above:-The Kingdom of Lesotho is a party to the International Treaty on the Non-proliferationof Nuclear Weapons, and Protocol 1973, in order to ensure that nuclear weapons. whichthreaten life, are not produced.The Kingdom of Lesotho ratified the U.N. Convention on the Prohibition of theDevelopment, Production, Stockpilling and Use of Chemical Weapons and theirDestruction. The instrument of ratification was deposited on 7th December 1994. A Isoin April 1996, Lesotho signed the <strong>African</strong> Nuclear Weapon - Free Zone Treaty (TheTreaty of Pelindaba).When a situation developed in January 1994, in the armed forces ofthe country, where-bytwo rival factions emerged and started to fight each other, the Government took steps toensure that full scale war did not erupt. These measures included involving, heads ofstate of Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, the Secretary General of theCommonwealth, the Secretary General of the Organisation of <strong>African</strong> Unity,representatives of the United Nations and the then Anglican Arch-Bishop of Cape Town,in negotiating peace. Thereafter a <strong>Commission</strong> of inquiry comprising members from theabove mentioned countries, as well as local personalities and the clergy was set up. Thesaid <strong>Commission</strong> made recommendations to the Government, which are beingimplemented in order to ensure lasting peace and stability.The Government of Lesotho, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare ismaking tremendous efforts in creating favourable conditions for the enjoyment of theright to life by increasing immunisation coverage as seen in the annexed report for theInternational Evaluation Survey on ARI, CDD, EPI and MHC/FP, of the Ministry ofHealth and Social Welfare, October 1993.The situation and health status of women and children in Lesotho has been adverselyaffected by socio-economic, political and environmental developments in the country.Poverty has increased due to reduced export earnings associated with the world recession,retrenchment of Basotho miners from South <strong>African</strong>, mines and severe and persistentdrought experienced in the last few years. Inadequate community participation in healthcare, inadequate quality and accessibility of health services, related to staff shortages, low,staff morale, lack of transportation and impassible terrain in certain localities, havefurther contributed to deteriorating health status.Over a one-year period chronic malnutrition amongst under-fives increased by 9 per cent(from 33% in 1992 to 42% in 1993). A 1993 micro-nutrients survey showed that goiter35
also increased among children from the 1988 survey figures, although decreased slightlyamong women, with the total goitre rate for school-going children at 42.5% and forwomen of child-bearing age at 36%. The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency as of 1993was 13.4%.According to the Health Sector Development Plan, major diseases, which contribute tohigh mortality among children, are acute respiratory infections (AM), immunizationpreventablediseases and diarrhoea. Pneumonia accounts for 70% of hospital admissionsfor respiratory diseases for under one-year-olds and about 60% of the over-ones.Diarrhoea hospital admission rates have increased dramatically among under-fives, in partdue to the drought and resulting poor water quality. The infant and child mortality ratesare 106 per 1,000, and 156 per 1,000 live births respectively.Five percent of hospital pediatric admissions are for TB cases in the under fourteen-yearold.Amongst adult men and women, there has been a dramatic increase (40 per cent) isthe number of registered Tuberculosis (TB) cases between 1988 and 1992. Theprevalence of HIV associated TB is much higher among females (18 per cent) than males(10 per cent). Sexually-transmitted diseases (STD's), particularly HIV/AIDS, threatento increase child and maternal mortality trues as well as worsen household dependencyratios through the premature death of younu adults (Disease Control Unit - MOHSW1994).Community health promotion has been improved through the training and deploymentof Community Health Workers (CHWs). Community partnership in health servicefinancing and income generation for food security have been improved in eight healthservice areas (HSA) through the Bamako Initiative (BI).The Government of Lesotho has adopted primary health care (PHC) as its strategy forhealth development in the country. "The Health and Social Welfare Sector DevelopmentPlan, 1995/96 - 1999/2000" emphasizes improving access to health services - particularlyfor geographically hard-to reach communities, disparity reduction, decentralization, costeffectiveinterventions, partnership with the community, and intersectoral collaboration.On the basis of the information currently available areas identified as contributingsignificantly to morbidity and mortality in the country, and therefore ofpriority for action,include TB, STD's, and HIV/AIDS, pregnancy-related conditions, diarrhoea, AcuteRespiratory Infection (ARI), measles and malnutrition. These areas, which can begrouped into the broad categories of maternal health, child health. t eproductive health andnutrition, will be the focus of the 1997-2001 UNICEF/GOL pi oLrarnme of cooperation.The 1993 international evaluation survey of Mother and Child Health (MCH) FamilyPlanning (FP) in Lesotho indicated a full immunisation coverage rate of 71 per cent ofchildren under one year of age. The majority of the reasons given for children not being36
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 and 32: A revision has been made to this re
Page 33 and 34: 1.15 STEPS TAKEN TO PROTECT FAMILY
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: circumstances of the case-(a)(b)(c)
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

English - African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

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