In a major breakthrough for the fight against domestic abuse, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that Lesotho’s first dedicated Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Center is officially up and running.
Addressing a media capacity-building workshop yesterday, UNFPA Representative, John Kennedy Mosoti announced that the facility has been operational for about two weeks.
He said the center is already sheltering at least 20 survivors, providing them with critical counseling and psychosocial support.
The opening comes at a crucial time when statistics are showing that an overwhelming 86 percent to 87 percent of women and girls in Lesotho experience GBV during their lives.
Despite these high numbers, officials noted that a massive number of cases never make it to the police.
According to Mosoti, fear, lack of trust, and limited confidence in authorities keep many survivors from coming forward. Instead of seeking official help, many choose to suffer in silence or only confide in close neighbors and friends.
The workshop, jointly hosted by the UNFPA and the UN Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency, focused heavily on how the media can help change this culture of fear.
“The involvement of the media in reporting GBV issues can help break the silence surrounding abuse cases, raise awareness, encourage survivors to speak out, and contribute towards eliminating stigma,” Mosoti stated.
‘MapulengSecheche, the acting Director General at the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, acknowledged that the government faces heavy financial constraints in tackling violence.
However, she emphasised that journalists hold immense power to drive positive behavioral change across communities without needing massive budgets.
Local data shows exactly where help is needed most. Senior Inspector MojabengMokotjomela from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) shared that while the Maseru district records the highest number of overall GBV cases, the Mokhotlong and Mafeteng districts currently flag the highest numbers for GBV-related murders.
She explained that sexual, physical, and emotional abuse remained the most common complaints.
To ensure the new center and community efforts can do their jobs safely, Senior Inspector Mokotjomela urged journalists to change how they cover these sensitive stories.
She appealed to the media to strictly protect the identities of survivors by never publishing names or photographs that could compromise their safety.
In response, local journalists requested that government institutions and development partners match their efforts by improving access to official, factual data. Better information sharing will allow reporters to accurately educate the public on the true magnitude of the crisis and hold institutions accountable.
Summary
- The opening comes at a crucial time when statistics are showing that an overwhelming 86 percent to 87 percent of women and girls in Lesotho experience GBV during their lives.
- The workshop, jointly hosted by the UNFPA and the UN Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency, focused heavily on how the media can help change this culture of fear.
- Senior Inspector MojabengMokotjomela from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) shared that while the Maseru district records the highest number of overall GBV cases, the Mokhotlong and Mafeteng districts currently flag the highest numbers for GBV-related murders.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
