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useful in improving access. Removal of financial penalty for late registration has served
as a further incentive for parents to register children.
Difficulties
The current difference between time requirements on registration causes a lack of
certainty and requires rectification. Culturally a child is not named at birth but normally
once taken home. Hospital staff complete a registration form to record that a child has
been born to the parents, but a name is rarely recorded at that time. So registration of
the child's birth and name while still in the hospital is uncommon. Derogatory names are
still given to children born out of wedlock.
Little importance is placed on birth registration in rural areas. This has flow on effects
when the child reaches school age or needs to access GoL social services. Despite
financial assistance from development partners resources are still sufficiently lacking
that there is significant delay in receipt of birth certificates.
5.2
Freedom of thought, conscience and religion (Article 9)
Legislative
The Constitution of Lesotho provides for freedom of conscience in section 13, freedom
of expression in section 14, freedom of association in section16, and freedom from
discrimination in section 18(3).
Section 14 of the CPW Act allows for the right of a child to express his opinions. Section
6 provides for non-discrimination based on religion. Section 22 requires the GoL to
make available to children certain information and protect children from harmful
information. Specifically section 11(6) requires children be provided with sexual and
reproductive health information appropriate to their age.
Administrative
The Lesotho Communications Authority (LCA) under the Ministry of Communications,
Science and Technology (MOCST) has the responsibility of monitoring media and other
nation-wide communications. This includes ensuring that content available to children is
appropriate to their age and development. The independent body Media Institute of
South Africa (MISA) Lesotho undertakes the role of independent watchdog in monitoring
content and ensuring unbiased reporting with respect to certain groups, including people
with disabilities, women and people living with HIV and AIDS.
Some primary and high schools have libraries for dissemination of information to their
students. These tend to be only in urban centres. There is a State reference library in
Maseru.