leave out numerous rural children. Besides, the directive issued by the Ministry of
Education and Training (MOET) which indicates that all sports should be scheduled
for Saturdays in schools will hamper the right to play of children as students and
teachers are not required to attend school on Saturdays. It is the Committees
recommendation that the State Party establishes youth and recreational centers in
rural areas and schools; and that the Government revises the directive issued by the
MOET to integrate sports and play in the education system.
H. Special protection measures
Refugee and displaced Children
44. The Committee notes that there are a number of legislative measures taken
including the Constitution, the Aliens Control Act, and the Refugee Act that provide
protection for refugee and displaced children. However, the Committee is concerned
about the implementation of these legislative frameworks. The Committee calls upon
the State Party to devise child friendly systems and mechanisms in which the
normative framework will be implemented.
45. The State Party accommodates refugee and displaced children in Mohalalitoe in
Maseru. The Committee recommends that the State Party makes an effort to
establish more centers like this; and to raise the standard of the living condition of
the center. The Committee recommends that the State Party puts an effort to ensure
access of refugee and displaced children to the domestic child wellbeing and
protection services such as access to food, regular education, and health services.
46. Moreover, the Committee recommends for the State Party to give access to birth
registration of refugee children. The State Party shall strive towards strengthening
the family reunification programme and develop an efficient mechanism to identify
and reunify refugee and displaced children.
47. The Committee encourages the State Party to work in collaboration with civil society
organizations and UN agencies in this regard.
Children in conflict with the law
48. The Committee commends the establishment of children’s court in Maseru.
However, the State Party indicated that children’s courts could not be established in
all districts due to budgetary constraints. The Committee recommends that the State
Party allocated sufficient budget to the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and
Correctional Services so that children’s benches are established in all districts and
the restorative justice programme is fully implemented. In the meantime, the
Committee recommends that personnel at subordinate courts are well trained on
children’s rights and procedures stipulated in the law for children’s courts.
49. It is the Committee’s recommendation that the State Party opts for diversion of
juvenile from the regular justice system; applies non-custodial penalties; separates
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