The Minister of Gender, Youth Sports and Recreation has appealed to members of the community to join hands in the fight against gender violence in the country.

Mrs. 'Mathabiso Lepono made the appeal on Monday when addressing the press on the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender campaign to kick start on November 25 and will end on December 10.

She said the 16 days of Activism Against Gender Violence, generally calls for elimination of all forms of violence against women by highlighting the fact that millions of women in every society around the world face violence every day, be it physical, sexual or psychological.

The Minister iterated that girls are abducted and forced into early marriage or subjected to harmful traditional practices, which their causes and consequences contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS, and unplanned pregnancies.

She noted that in an effort to address gender based violence in the country, government adopted the Sexual Offense Act of 2003, which deals with gender equality without discriminating between men and women.

She added that the act gives men and women equal rights and protection against all instances and offenses of sexual nature including sexual violence.

And to further address the problem, the ministry will establish Centre for Survivors of Violence to be named 'LAPENG', so that the intended beneficiaries must feel home.

The centre as she said, will serve as a home whereby survivors will temporarily be kept while their concerns are being worked out.

She expressed appreciation that since Lesotho embarked on the campaign in 2005, number of reports on violence have increased.

To enhance initiatives to curb gender based violence, the ministry is currently making efforts to ensure that Domestic Violence Bill is being transformed into law, she said.

Meanwhile, the Minister will officially launch the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence in Thaba-Tseka on Sunday.

The theme for this year's campaign thus 'Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles, End Violence Against Women' calls for men and women to eradicate violence against children.

Source: LENA 19/11/2007