THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO COMBINED SECOND TO EIGHTH PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS AND INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA departments and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who played a crucial role in drafting and validation of this report. BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND GENERAL FRAMEWORK FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION 6. Background information regarding the land of Lesotho, geographic setting, the people of Lesotho, official languages and the legal system remain the same as contained in the initial report. However, it is important to note that the people of Lesotho consist of Basotho, Sesotho speaking people who are the majority in the country and a small minority of Baphuthi and Xhosa’s who are mostly located in the Southern part of the country in the districts of Quthing and Qacha’s Nek as well as Matebele who are in various parts of the country. The latest statistics estimate Baphuthi to constitute about 2 percent of the total population. That is, about 40 000 people. These statistics have not been disaggregated by sex. 7. Lesotho is located in Southern Africa and totally surrounded by South Africa as its only neighbour. This has resulted in a close relationship between the two countries as the economic, political and security situation in one country has a huge impact on that of the other country. 8. Since the last periodic report, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1, 8 million in 2002, 2,01 million in 2010 and 2,2 million in 2016. The actual population is estimated by the World Bank to have risen to about 2,3 million in 2018. 2