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
342. While there is no law which specifically protect sexual minorities in Lesotho, there is also
no law which outlaws homosexuality. Furthermore, despite a major sector of the society
having reservations about homosexuality on the basis of culture and religion, there are no
reports of women who have been subjected to violence on the basis of their sexual
orientation. Rather, the system has been receptive to sexual minorities in that one
organisation, Matrix, has been registered and it carries its activities without hindrance from
the government. Furthermore, in September 2017, the first chest operation for a
transgendered man was carried out in Lesotho in a referral hospital in which the
government has shares. This is thus an indication of government’s tolerance of sexual
minorities in Lesotho.
Support to victims of violence
343. Despite absence of a domestic violence law, the government of Lesotho in collaboration
with development partners and CSOs has adopted administrative measures to support
victims of domestic violence. These measures include:
establishment of the office of Gender and Child Protection Unit (GCPU) within the
police service with mandate to handle cases of gender based violence;
establishment of Victims’ Support Unit within the Magistrate Court with mandate
to support victims during prosecution of cases including those of gender based
violence and
establishment of Lapeng Care Centre, a temporary home for victims of GBV.
Challenges
344. The main challenge with affects elimination of violence against women in Lesotho is that
there is general acceptance of wife battering within the society. The other challenge is that
the CGPU does not have full capacity to deal with the number of cases as well as
sensitivity and complexity of cases of GBV. In relation to provision of support to victims of
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