On the 27th and 28^th of September 2011, the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and the Correctional Service held a workshop on the National Human Rights Action Plan, with the support of UNDP and Irish Aid and assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Regional Office for Southern Africa.

The objective of the workshop was to gather all relevant stakeholders to discuss the process of developing a National Human Rights Action Plan and highlight the necessity of coordinating the work of line ministries and civil society organisations in the promotion and protection of human rights, avoiding duplication of efforts and building a stronger partnership among them.

The objectives of developing a National Human Rights Action plan are to identify the issues and challenges that Lesotho is facing in protecting human rights and raise awareness of human rights issues, with the final aim of developing a comprehensive strategy on human rights promotion and protection. The National Human Rights Action Plan will enhance human rights respect, protection and fulfillment in Lesotho by placing its objectives in the context of public policy, so that the government, civil society organisations and communities can endorse human rights improvements as practical goals. The Action Plan is meant to be comprehensive in scope and highly participatory, thus requiring the commitment and contribution of several and different stakeholders in their relevant area of expertise.

The outcomes of a National Human Rights Action Plan are generally expected to be the ratification and domestication of international treaties, a stronger administration of justice, improved rule of law, a strengthened independence of the judiciary and improved practices on the part of security authorities, better awareness and implementation of economic, social and cultural rights, improved linkage between human rights and development; more effective civil society institutions and enhanced programmes for vulnerable groups, amongst others.

The workshop was opened by the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, R.C Masenyetse, who highlighted the recent achievements towards the furtherance of human rights in Lesotho, such as the passing of the 6^th Amendment to the Constitution, which enshrined the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission, the enactment of the Anti-trafficking Act, the Children’s Protection and Welfare Act and the Land Act, to mention but a few. The Principal Secretary also indicated that “The importance of a national human rights action plan derives from the necessity to coordinate all our efforts in the promotion of human rights, to have an exhaustive strategy for the next years in promoting civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights”.

Participants at the workshop

The workshop was attended by representatives of Government Institutions, members of Law Enforcement Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, academics and other stakeholders with the goal of involving any institution which can actively contribute in enhancing human rights protection and promotion in Lesotho.

Guilia Pelosi, UNV for Human Rights, UNDP Lesotho