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Integrated Early Childhood Care and Development Policy (IECCD) states concisely the
principles on which a child's development is premised. The Free Education Act (2010)
provides education to all children between the ages six (6) and thirteen (13) years free
of charge. Life-skills programs are run in primary schools jointly between MOET and
MOH. They mainstream sexual and reproductive education into classroom curriculum
from class 3 onwards.
Difficulties
Lesotho struggles to provide for the survival and development of its children. It is
plagued by very high rates of HIV and AIDS (23% incidence rate), orphans, malnutrition
and infant death. Mothers continue to follow traditional cultural methods of healing
rather than allopathic medicine, despite it becoming more widely available. Much of the
population has poor access to basic services such as health and clean drinking water in
some communities. The inadequacy of services offered is another inhibitor to child
survival and development. These factors mean that Lesotho is lagging in the
achievement of its MDG’s.
4.4
Respect for the opinion of children (Article 7)
Legislative
Article 14 of the Constitution of Lesotho provides for freedom of expression to all
persons in Lesotho, which necessarily includes children.
The CPW Act in section 14 states that a child may express their opinion freely and that
weight be given to the child's opinion in accordance with their age and maturity. Section
22 requires the GoL to develop policy which respects the freedom of thought,
conscience and religion of children. The CPW Act also allows a child to be heard in
decisions which affect their well-being, such as custody disputes, adoption applications
and during restorative justice proceedings.
Administrative
Child participation is provided for with respect to their treatment for HIV and AIDS in the
ART Guidelines where the child is above twelve (12) years of age.
In drafting the NSPVC 2012-2017 children’s views were considered. World Vision
Lesotho hosts a Children's Parliament annually to hear children's views on children's
matters. They also fund Children's Committees in some communities which advocate
for specific children, similar to case workers in social work. As previously noted they
publish a Children’s' Voice newsletter which is comprised of children's contributions. The