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 228. Protection of the youth is overseen by the department of Youth in the Ministry of Gender, Sports and Youth. Amongst its programmes aimed at youth empowerment, the department has established Youth Centres which are equipped with computer labs and youth development officers who guide the youth on how to start businesses and also provides them with start-up kits. ARTICLE 19: RIGHT TO EQUALITY OF PEOPLE 229. As stipulated in the initial report and in the background to this report, Lesotho was formed from unification of different clans and tribes of people who were running from the wars which took place in Southern Africa in the 1800s who came to Moshoeshoe I for protection. Together, all these people are called Basotho. The Kingdom of Lesotho endeavours to protect human rights on the basis of equality of all the Basotho people. 230. Majority of the Basotho people speak Sesotho. Hence, Sesotho and English are recognised as the official languages in Lesotho. 231. Linguistic minorities in Lesotho are the Baphuthi, Xhosas and Ndebele who mostly reside in the Southern part of the country and speak both Sesotho and their respective mother tongues. Constitutional measures 232. Because of the acknowledgement of different cultures which the people of Lesotho have despite being unified into one nation, section 35 of the Constitution makes provision for participation in cultural activities. Administrative measures 233. Although there is no legislation specifically dedicated to ensure equality of the peoples in Lesotho, there are policies and programmes which are aimed at ensuring that information is disseminated to all the people on equal basis and also to ensure that the minority 90