the Committee urges the State Party to speed up the establishment of the National
Human Rights Commission and to provide a child sub-committee therein.
7. The State Party’s replies to the List of Issues indicate the various measures taken to
support the National Orphans and Vulnerable Children Coordinating Committee
(NOCC) and District Child Protection Teams (DCPT). However, there are reports
that indicate the Government has not accorded legal standing to the NOCC and
DCPT which in effect results in low budgetary allocation and lack of defined
mandate. The Committee therefore recommends that the State Party takes
necessary steps to clearly stipulate the mandate of the two organs; to allocate
sufficient budget for their works; and to enhance their efficiency and independence.
8. The State Party Report states that ratified international and regional treaties and
conventions are not binding unless they are domesticated by a national legislation.
Considering this, the Committee encourages to domesticate all the international and
regional instruments the State Party has ratified; and to enforce and give effect to
the same.
9. The Committee notes with appreciation the measures the State Party is undertaking
to overcome the difficulty in monitoring and evaluation of delivery of services and
data management. The Committee further encourages the State Party to fortify its
efforts in training human resource; allocating sufficient budget for monitoring and
evaluation; and in looking assistance in this regard from non-governmental and UN
agencies.
10. Moreover, the Committee encourages the Government of Lesotho to strengthen the
collaboration and cooperation among various ministries and government organs
working for children. The Committee also encourages the State Party to create an
auspicious environment and to engage them in the implementation of the African
Children’s Charter, the CPWA, as well as other legislations and policies for the
realization of children’s rights.
11. While appreciating the efforts of the Government of Lesotho in distributing the
CPWA and providing a child friendly version of the Act, the Committee recommends
that the State Party translates the full text of the CPWA in Sesotho language; widely
disseminates the African Children’s Charter and creates awareness on the Charter.
B. Definition of a child
12. The Committee commends the State Party for adopting definition of the child
consistent with the African Children’s Charter. The Committee also notes with
concern that children aged 13 and above can engage in light works due to the
increasing number of child headed families. It is the Committee’s recommendation
that the Stare Party complies with international standard and raise the minimum age
of employment. The State Party should devise other schemes such as grants and
free services provisions for child headed families to support them.
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