Africa-Press – Lesotho. Sesotho Media and Development (SM&D) and She-Hive launched the project dubbed ‘The Accountability and Capacity building’, a move to address human rights issues.
The duo also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS) for implementation of this mandate. This project is intended
to bring Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) together with the public for the realization of human rights compliance by LMPS with the financial support of
European Union. It will take 42 months to complete – 2021-2025 and will be implemented in six districts of Lesotho. The intervention seeks to address the
respect of security sector institutions to the rule of law in Lesotho. Speaking at the launch SM&D Executive Director and Coordinator of the project ‘Mamolefe Petlane indicated
that in 2020, following a public call by the European Union (EU) seeking to promote human rights and support CSOs as actors of governance and development,
SM&D together with their partner; She-Hive, approached the LMPS to discuss the challenge of human rights violations by LMPS. She said in these consultations a consensus was reached, that a concerted effort bringing
together LMPS, CSOs, media and the public is an urgent priority to strategically address this challenge. Petlane added that further consultations were made with the representatives from these various sectors, echoing the need
for participatory platforms to break the silence around this challenge and empower communities and LMPS to mobilize and engage in dialogue around these
issues. Petlane noted that the project is the culmination of the expressed views and recommendations of various stakeholders to remedy the LMPS human rights challenge.
“As we sign this agreement with LMPS, we are privileged as SM&D to be representing the collective will
and interests of our partners, CSOs, media, the public including all minority groups in Lesotho. This is a project for Basotho, seeking to provide a grassroots-led solution to the human rights challenge,” she said.
She added; “Findings from the 2018 Afro barometer survey revealed that most Basotho are concerned with police brutality, which is perceived as a problem in the country.
The Survey revealed that two thirds of Basotho say some police members routinely abuse or torture people in their custody. This takes away the slogan “Lepolesa Mothusi Motsoalle” translated “Police
my helper my friend”. The matter of police brutality has become a routine feature in the local press, a circumstance that is beginning to numb or normalize the problem,” Petlane
expressed. She said Lesotho has ratified many United Nations (UN) Human Rights Conventions and thus has made binding international commitments to adhere to the standards laid down in these
universal human rights documents. “Our own Constitution and relevant supporting legislation and the systems of the judiciary and law enforcement have all been
set up to protect the rights, well-being, dignity, and lives of Basotho. I cannot forget to mention the invaluable support to the human rights environment, provided by civil society organizations, development partners,
scholars, activists, and human rights defenders,” she stated. As per SM&D press release issued on August 03rd, the main objective of this action is to support multi-sector participatory change process leading to
enhancement of the respect, promotion, fulfillment and protection of human rights by LMPS. This will be archived through creating platforms for meaningful joint
consultations, linking the public, police and CSOs in identifying and documenting Human Rights abuse Challenges involving LMPS, capacitating LMPS, CSOs, media and community leaders on human rights issues and Lobbying and influencing security sector reforms at policy level on LMPS compliance to human rights.
