The Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) is making preparations to ensure that Lesotho observes the sixteen days of activism against gender violence jointly among individuals, various organizations and government ministries from November 25 to December 10. In an interview, WLSA's Coordinator Mrs. Keiso Matashane- Marite said the sixteen days period will be used to create a solidarity movement among
Basotho, to raise awareness around gender-based violence as a human rights abuse as well as to ensure better protection for survivors of violence and calls for elimination of all forms of violence against women.

She explained that there has been a suggestion that this years campaign activities explore the intersection of culture and violence against women under the theme "creating a culture that says no to violence against women". She further indicated that it is important that cultural norms and believes be critically explored and challenged so as to destroy claims that use culture as a justification for violence against women. She said during the sixteen days, gender violence activists will carry out the campaign throughout the country with the aim to break the silence of abuse among Basotho women and children, saying that WLSA does not ignore the fact that some men are victims of abuse even though it comes at very little percentages.

She concluded by pointing out that the campaign links violence and human rights, emphasizing that all forms of violence whether perpetrated in the public or private sphere are a violation of human rights, there is need for all people to join hands in eliminating gender violence and that it should not only last during the 16 days campaigns against gender violence. 

A meeting to prepare for the 16 days of activism was held this week at Maseru Sun   brought together activists from the seven countries of Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland and Malawi. Activists shared ideas and acquired skills on making the campaigns more effective through the use of among others posters, the media, art and drama. The sixteen days of activism against gender violence campaign is a global annual event for the past eleven years, but Lesotho will mark the 16 days of activism for the fourth time this year.

05 November,2002