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 410. Women through their civil society organisations have been included in peacekeeping activities including political conflict resolution and security sector reforms to ensure that they participate in prevention of conflict and preservation of peace in the country. 411. The government of Lesotho has had intentions to reduce military expenditure in favour of development activities including access to clean portable water. However, due to political instability that has faced the country in the last decade, the annual military budget for 2017/2018 has been increased by 16 percent in order to ensure protection of the right to peace. ARTICLE 11: PROTECTION IN ARMED CONFLICT Constitutional and legislative measures 412. Lesotho is fully committed to protection of women in times of armed conflict. This protection is extended to women during conflicts that may take place in Lesotho or those who seek asylum or refuge due to armed conflicts in other countries. Lesotho is a party to and if committed to abide by the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (UN Refugee Convention) 1951 and the OAU Convention Governing Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (OAU Refugee Convention) 1969. 413. The Refugees Act of 1983 is aimed at protection of refugees and asylum seekers. In terms of the Refugee Act refugees are exempted from the application of the Aliens Control Act which outline entry into Lesotho. Registration, rights and expulsion of refugees are governed by the Refugee Act. It defines a refugee in the following terms: (1) (a) subject to subsection (2), a refugee is any person who, owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, 143