By Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU – Lesotho is a party to the international treaties and laws for human rights and it has been accused of lack of implementation of those.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) actors had last uniformly exerted pressure on the government and members of parliament to facilitate the enactment of the laws that will operationalize the international instruments that Lesotho has signed.
These transpired during the commemoration of International Human Rights Day. Although this day is observed on December 10, the country celebrated prior to the day as it falls during the weekend, Saturday.
Lesotho commemorated on Thursday last week.
This year, it is marked under the theme “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”.
From the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD) Sam Letima said some of the people with disability do not enjoy the socio-economic-political rights that every Mosotho is entitled to.
Despite the parliament having passed Disability Equity Act, 2021 he said it needs to be operationalized through the disability council to ensure those with disabilities enjoy their rights. This Act is envisaged “to provide for equal opportunities and recognition of rights of persons with disabilities, and for related matters”.
Lesotho ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008 and the Disability Equity Act, 2021 was an attempt to domesticate this Convention.
From the National University of Lesotho (NUL), Chairperson of the Human Rights Research Chair, Dr Carol Ngang said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) one can see male “dominance” in many of its provisions.
He said UDHR should be used as a tool for advocacy.
Dr Ngang said there are nine core international human rights treaties and over 60 instruments regional and international instruments drawn from the UDHR.
From the Office of the Human Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) United Nations (UN) Office for Human Rights Michael urged everyone to push the human rights agenda.
He highlighted one of the challenges a as lack of legislation that would enable and create an environment for the protection and promotion of human rights.
Representing The People’s Matrix, Tampose Mothopeng said the country is “failing” them by not signing and ratifying treaties that addresse issues of the LGBTIQA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual) community.
According to the OHCHR, “all States are obligated under international human rights law to promote and protect the human rights of all persons without discrimination”.
Mothopeng further said lack of supporting laws to domesticate the international treaties hinder them to enjoy their rights fully and “retain” their dignity.
The Human rights treaties which Lesotho is party to, enshrine the rights of individual persons and, groups. These treaties champion for full exercise of the human rights and other rights of persons regardless of their status, background, religious or political affiliations.
On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Resident Coordinator Thabo Mosoeunyane said the Human Rights Commission will address many issues pertaining to human rights.
He urged the members of parliament (MP) to support the establishment of the Human Rights Commission.
Mosoeunyane said the country is at a “crucial time” underscoring the need for the Human Rights Commission.
The Human Rights Commission Bill was included in the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution Bill, 2022 famously known as Omnibus Bill that collapsed when the Constitutional Court nullified the work done by the parliament when its term had ended.
The Vienna Declaration recognizes and affirms the human as the pinnacle of human rights enshrinement and enjoyment.
“Recognizing and affirming that all human rights derive from the dignity and worth inherent in the human person, and that the human person is the central subject of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and consequently should be the principal beneficiary and should participate actively in the realization of these rights and freedoms.”
The year 1995 saw Lesotho ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Calls for domestication of international human rights laws amplify
Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MASERU – Lesotho is a party to the international treaties and laws for human rights and it has been accused of lack of implementation of those.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) actors had last uniformly exerted pressure on the government and members of parliament to facilitate the enactment of the laws that will operationalize the international instruments that Lesotho has signed.
These transpired during the commemoration of International Human Rights Day. Although this day is observed on December 10, the country celebrated prior to the day as it falls during the weekend, Saturday.
Lesotho commemorated on Thursday last week.
This year, it is marked under the theme “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”.
From the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of the Disabled (LNFOD) Sam Letima said some of the people with disability do not enjoy the socio-economic-political rights that every Mosotho is entitled to.
Despite the parliament having passed Disability Equity Act, 2021 he said it needs to be operationalized through the disability council to ensure those with disabilities enjoy their rights. This Act is envisaged “to provide for equal opportunities and recognition of rights of persons with disabilities, and for related matters”.
Lesotho ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2008 and the Disability Equity Act, 2021 was an attempt to domesticate this Convention.
From the National University of Lesotho (NUL), Chairperson of the Human Rights Research Chair, Dr Carol Ngang said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) one can see male “dominance” in many of its provisions.
He said UDHR should be used as a tool for advocacy.
Dr Ngang said there are nine core international human rights treaties and over 60 instruments regional and international instruments drawn from the UDHR.
From the Office of the Human Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) United Nations (UN) Office for Human Rights Michael urged everyone to push the human rights agenda.
He highlighted one of the challenges a as lack of legislation that would enable and create an environment for the protection and promotion of human rights.
Representing The People’s Matrix, Tampose Mothopeng said the country is “failing” them by not signing and ratifying treaties that addresse issues of the LGBTIQA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual) community.
According to the OHCHR, “all States are obligated under international human rights law to promote and protect the human rights of all persons without discrimination”.
Mothopeng further said lack of supporting laws to domesticate the international treaties hinder them to enjoy their rights fully and “retain” their dignity.
The Human rights treaties which Lesotho is party to, enshrine the rights of individual persons and, groups. These treaties champion for full exercise of the human rights and other rights of persons regardless of their status, background, religious or political affiliations.
On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Resident Coordinator Thabo Mosoeunyane said the Human Rights Commission will address many issues pertaining to human rights.
He urged the members of parliament (MP) to support the establishment of the Human Rights Commission.
Mosoeunyane said the country is at a “crucial time” underscoring the need for the Human Rights Commission.
The Human Rights Commission Bill was included in the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution Bill, 2022 famously known as Omnibus Bill that collapsed when the Constitutional Court nullified the work done by the parliament when its term had ended.
The Vienna Declaration recognizes and affirms the human as the pinnacle of human rights enshrinement and enjoyment.
“Recognizing and affirming that all human rights derive from the dignity and worth inherent in the human person, and that the human person is the central subject of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and consequently should be the principal beneficiary and should participate actively in the realization of these rights and freedoms.”
The year 1995 saw Lesotho ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).