increasing number of children employed below the minimum age and children working in hazardous conditions. 61. The Committee notes with appreciation the adoption of the guideline for employment of herd boys. However, the Committee is concerned that parents force their boys to work on the farm and to herd cattle which expose children to extreme weather conditions, dropout from schools, attacks by animals and gangsters. The Committee recommends that the State Party implements the guideline and sensitizes the society about the negative consequences of herding by children. Apart from sensitization, the State Party should also take necessary measures against parents who send their children for herding. The Committee recommends that the State Party provides necessary support for children who are engaged in herding including providing them with education, shelter, food, and health care. Harmful traditional practice 62. The Committee appreciates the legal framework that sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 years of age. Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned that child marriage is highly prevalent in the State Party. Therefore, the Committee urges the State Party to conduct an aggressive sensitization of parents, traditional and religious leaders about child marriage; and to sanction those who marry away children. The Committee further encourages the Government to prevent forced marriage after sexual violence by ensuring prosecution of perpetrators. 63. In general, the Committee calls upon the State Party to take legislative and administrative measures to combat all forms of harmful traditional practices including herding, traditional male circumcision and witchcraft. I. Responsibility of the child 64. The Committee notes that the Ministry of Social Development is formulating a regulation to facilitate the implementation of section 21 of the CPW Act on the responsibilities of the child. The Committee encourages the State Party to fast-track the adoption of the regulation and to include in it measures that should be taken to ensure that responsibilities of children do not compromise their rights enshrined in the African Children’s Charter. The Committee further encourages the Government to empower and educate children to make them aware about their duties and to enable them fulfill their duties. J. Conclusion 65. The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child commends the efforts invested by the Government of Lesotho and aspires to the implementation of these recommendations. The Committee would like to indicate that it will undertake a follow up Mission to assess the implementation of these recommendations in the foreseeable future. The Committee would also like to invite 13