The Minister of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation, Mrs. ‘Mathabiso Lepono has called on males to eliminate all forms of violence against females.

She was addressing Mohale’s hoek community at a ceremony to launch the 16 days of activism against gender violence held at Maphuts’eng Setanteng on Wednesday.

The Minister noted that women and girls are vulnerable to sexual abuse by their loved ones and relatives and therefore urged men to protect, respect and give women and girls the love they deserve as this is part of their human right.

“As women, we want to enjoy all the fundamental human rights enjoyed by men,” she said.

Mrs. Lepono refuted allegations that men sexually abuse girls because of the way they dress such as wearing miniskirts, saying that in the past, girls used to wear the traditional wear, ‘thithana’, which was relatively very short.

The Minister however urged women to dress respectively and to remember that their bodies are temples of the Lord.

She also warned women to refrain from acts of abuse either emotional or physical against men, saying gender based violence affects all people mentally, physically and emotionally.

Speaking at the same occasion, a Member of Parliament for Mohale’s hoek, Mr. Thabang Pheko said males are also victims of violence hence both men and women need to stand against any form of violence.

He pledged their commitment as parliamentarians in the district to stop acts that promote gender based violence, saying that women and children need to be protected by husbands, fathers, brothers and sons and not to be treated badly.

The United Nations Population Fund Representative, Dr Lillian Marutle noted that in everyday life, women and girls are subject to various forms of violence against their bodies, minds and dignity.

She said they are exposed to domestic violence, exploitation, sexual violence, trafficking and harmful traditional practices.

Dr Marutle appealed to the nation to come together during the 16 days and demand an end to the most pervasive yet least reported human rights abuse.

“Let us all take a stand and say loudly and clearly, no violence against women and children,” she added.

A representative of the Lesotho National Federation of the Disabled (LNFOD), Ms Likopo Lesoetsa said as much as females with disabilities are vulnerable to sexual offences, they are faced with challenges of not being properly served in courts of law and at police stations due to communication breakdown.

She appealed to the public to report acts of violence against people with disabilities, adding that the government has to review the laws so that the rights of disabled people are protected.

The 16 days of activism against gender violence is a global campaign running from November 25 through December 10 aimed at raising awareness to the public on the effects of gender-based violence.

Source: LENA 25/11/2009