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 PART B: THE PROTOCOL INTRODUCTION 286. The Kingdom of Lesotho ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (The Protocol) on 26 October 2004. The Protocol complements the African Charter by stipulating means through which States Parties must ensure that African women fully realise their human rights on the basis of equality with men. 287. In terms of article 26 of the Protocol, states parties are enjoined to submit periodic reports on their implementation of the Protocol every two years. Thus, Lesotho’s initial report was due in 2006. However, because of technical constraints and political instability which the Kingdom of Lesotho has experienced in the past decade, it has not been able to comply with this obligation. With technical assistance provided by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, the Kingdom of Lesotho has been able to prepare this report which covers the period between 2006 and 2017. 288. This initial report has been compiled in accordance with article 26 of the Protocol as well as the Guidelines for State Reporting issued by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. 289. The report was compiled in consultation with government ministries and departments, representatives of various human rights institutions; civil society and community based organisations. 290. The report contains details regarding the legislative, administrative, judicial and other measures which the Kingdom of Lesotho has put in place to implement protection of the rights recognised in the Protocol. The statistics used in this report are secondary data obtained from population censuses of 2006 and 2016, Lesotho Demographic Survey (LDS), Lesotho Government Ministries and Research conducted by various Civil Society 105