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
frameworks for child protection are developed and strengthened at all levels. It further
seeks to strengthen and establish co-ordination structures for OVC programmes and
increase resource mobilisation to utilise them efficiently. It furthermore seeks to work
towards formalising the existing non-formal institutions for OVC and to build capacity of
support systems involved in their management. The policy further Improves provision of
care and services for OVC and their families. Furthermore, it attempts to streamline and
strengthen registration of OVC and maintain databases for the same and others.
220. The following policies also mainstream protection of persons with disabilities:
National Strategic Development Plan which includes disability as a crosscutting
issue.
Social Development Policy which aims at ensuring the social inclusion of persons
with disability.
National Disability and Rehabilitation Policy 2011 whose aim is to ensure the
meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream society.
Challenges and efforts to mitigate such challenges
221. One of the major challenges facing protection of children in Lesotho is child labour.
According to statistics, 26, 42 and 31 percent of children aged 5-9, 10-14 and 15-17
respectively do work. Ninety-three percent of these children work and live in the rural
areas while 7 percent live in urban areas. Twenty-three percent of the working children
aged between 5 and 9 years work more than 7 hours per week, while those aged between
10 and 14 years work more than 21 hours a week. Fifty-five percent of working children
are boys while 45 percent of them are girls. Seventy-two percent of working children are
engaged in agricultural activities and 10 percent are engaged in domestic work.
222. In order to combat the problem of child labour in Lesotho, the Ministry of Labour has an
Action Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (APEC) 2013/2017. In terms
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