Explanatory Notes: See the “National Action Plan on Gender Based Violence” in Lesotho (2008), which provides for the creation of a code of conduct for taxi drivers and for lighting to be installed in the streets and in public places to decrease the risk of violence for women in these areas. E. COOPERATION WITH LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS 19. Participation of civil society organisations in preventing sexual violence Local authorities and civil society organisations, including community organisations, play a particularly important role in preventing sexual violence and its consequences, especially in remote or marginalized areas. States must ensure that these organisations directly participate in an ongoing manner in prevention activities and in all stages of the development, implementation and monitoring of national action plans (see Part 6, Section B. of the Guidelines). 20. Support to civil society organisations States must support civil society organisations that conduct programmes preventing and addressing sexual violence and its consequences, including awareness-raising measures, and providing training and support to the victims of sexual violence. Any barriers that hinder their work, including legal barriers, must be removed, and they must be protected against attack or recriminations. GUIDELINES ON COMBATING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES IN AFRICA 23

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