Africa-Press – Lesotho. The French government has bestowed the prestigious Human Rights prize 2022 to the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Lesotho at the ceremony held in Maseru
on Tuesday this week. The Human Rights Prize of the French Republic is given by the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH). The award
is given in recognition of their work for protecting women and children through awareness campaigns, lobbying, advocacy and litigation in pursuance of social
justice. Created in 1988, the Human Rights Prize of the French Republic recognises the efforts of the human rights defenders, be individuals or non-governmental organisations
(NGOs). The 2021, edition of this award ran with two themes: ‘COVID-19 and defending human rights’ and ‘Education, a common good and a fundamental right’. Handing
over the award, France Ambassador to Lesotho, South Africa and Malawi Aurélien Lechevallier said FIDA is a “real driver for change”. “Through this prize and in the name of the French people, the jury of the Human Rights
Commission recognises the significant contribution of FIDA Lesotho to the protection and promotion of human rights in the world through actions that the federation
is carrying out in Lesotho. “Lesotho owes a lot to your organisation, women and children first but also men and the nation as a whole through the advise and legal education you provide,” he said.
The Ambassador continued that through legal capacity building that women receive from FIDA, they are informed and positioned to know the abuse that they are
subjected to and know which rights they can claim. He added: “You encourage them to do so through various initiatives aimed at strengthening their place in decision
making from domestic to institutional level as well as inviting them to promote equality in all spheres of life. Doing so, your actions are being anchored locally
and reverberates nationally by generating accompanying change. ” Receiving the award, FIDA Lesotho President Advocate Lindiwe Sephomolo King’s Counsel
(KC) said it is not “often” that the work of this organisation does receives
recognition and its “excellence” attracts reward. “With this prize we will continue in our endeavour to defend the most vulnerable and we look forward to continuing with the protection of human rights and bringing
about positive changes in the Kingdom of Lesotho for many years to come. We are humbled and appreciative,” the FIDA Lesotho President said when appreciating
the gesture. Advocate Sephomolo KC said the organisation is part of the human rights protection network of non-governmental organizations at grassroots, national and on the international
arena. She mentioned that in the past two years, not only did they fight the COVID-19 pandemic but also waged fight against violence against women and children.
“Women and children were trapped with their abusers making it difficult to seek help and escape.
As FIDA we continue to bring GBV (Gender Based Violence) to the fore through raising awareness amongst communities and building capacity within community
policing groups while patiently awaiting the long awaited domestic violence Act. “Also at the centre is the issue of [human] trafficking. Traffickers have taken
advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and have capitalised on people’s loss of income and livelihoods by luring victims with fake promises of employment only
to be sold into sexual exploitation, forced marriage and forced criminality,” she said. Taking stock of the Lesotho’s progress in the fight against trafficking in persons
(TIP) the Ministry of Home Affairs Principal Secretary Tumelo Raboletsi said
with the support of the international community and development partners, the country was able to produce National Strategic Framework and Action Plan to
Combat TIP. “One of the strategic objectives of this document amongst others was to ensure and strengthen collaboration with non-governmental organisations,” he said, adding
that it was in this context where the Ministry solidified relations with FIDA. Raboletsi further mentioned that FIDA was instrumental in undertaking the study on TIP
that is envisaged to inform government policies going forward. The PS mentioned that the government had done modest in the fight against human trafficking
wherein it has moved to Tier 2 from Tier 3 which is the lowest ranking for the countries that have failed to “fully comply efforts with the minimum standards
and are not making significant efforts to do so,” as per the United States TIP report of 2020. He said the government had also committed special funds for the
fight against TIP. In attendance were the European Union (EU) Head of Delegation Paola Amadei, Director Of Alliance Francaise de Maseru and Honorary Consul Of France In
Lesotho Jennifer Audebert, government senior officials and civil societies representatives. Some of the achievements made by FIDA Lesotho include advocating for amendment of Inheritance
Act 1992 to give married women right to own land. Their efforts had also resulted in the enactment of the 2006 Legal Capacity of Married Persons Act. FIDA Lesotho is a membership based organisation.
For More News And Analysis About Lesotho Follow Africa-Press
