4 December 2024 by Limpho Sello

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At least one girl was sexually assaulted every day in Lesotho from January to September 2024, making the country an unsafe place for girls aged 12 to 17 to live.

Speaking at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Tebello Tšepe revealed that 284 girls were sexually assaulted during this period.

With 274 days between January and September, this means that every single day, at least one girl experienced sexual violence in Lesotho.

ACP Tšepe leads the Criminal Investigations Department within the Lesotho Mounted Police Services. On November 25, 2024, he told attendees at the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence (GBV) that 364 cases of gender-based violence involving children were recorded between January and September 2024.

“Among these, 284 were sexual offences, primarily affecting girls aged 12 to 17,” ACP Tšepe revealed.

Additionally, ACP Tšepe noted a concerning rise in cases involving boys, “suggesting shifting patterns of abuse.” He however did not provide specific statistics in sexual offenses against boys in Lesotho. 

This shift in patterns underscores the growing complexity of abuse cases, as highlighted by a recent conviction involving a 22-year-old woman from Botha-Bothe. The woman was convicted after the Botha-Bothe Magistrate Court found her guilty of raping a ten-year-old boy.

He indicated that Leribe and Quthing recorded the highest numbers of child sexual offences. When it comes to adults, ACP Tšepe revealed a total of 454 GBV cases affecting adults were reported between January and September 2024.

“Alarmingly, 266 of these were sexual offences, predominantly rape, with women making up the majority of victims. Other forms of violence included 127 cases of assault, often by intimate partners, and 16 cases of grievous bodily harm (GBH),” he said. ACP Tšepe added that the districts most affected are Maseru Rural and Leribe for adults.

Also read: https://www.uncensored.org.za/violence-against-women-costs-lesotho-m15-9million-in-divorces/

Toxic masculinity

In September 2023, a South African journal published an article showing that sexual violence against women is still a big problem in Lesotho. This is despite many efforts being made to stop it sexual violence against women in Lesotho.

The study looked at rural areas in Lesotho and found that certain ideas about what it means to be a man lead to sexual violence.

These include “misuse of traditional weapons such as koto, molamu and lebetlela and cultural practices such as ho ratha patsi and ho kenela.”

In cities, the study found that some men believe their role as providers and protectors can also lead to sexual violence. It shows that different ideas about manhood can make women more vulnerable to sexual violence.

The study argues that these ideas about masculinity, whether intended or not, can lead to sexual violence against women.

ACP Tšepe offers any cause of growing sexual violence against girls in Lesotho.

“Many girls under 18 believe they are in consensual relationships with older men, unaware of the illegality and abuse they face. This misconception often leads to parents stepping in to report cases, with some girls even claiming to be married as early as 13,” Ts’epe said.

“Child-headed families, often a result of abandonment by parents, also exacerbate the vulnerability of children to abuse.”

ACP Tšepe emphasised the police service’s constitutional obligation to respect, protect, and fulfil human rights, including addressing GBV.

He said measures include: “Establishing rapid response teams; to handle GBV cases promptly; Amplifying the voices of men and boys ;in the fight against GBV, to challenge harmful gender norms; Strengthening partnerships with traditional leaders, such as the recent engagement with chiefs in Thaba-Bosiu.”

During the ongoing 16 Days of Activism against GBV, police have also ramped up efforts with door-to-door campaigns led by the Women’s Network and media outreach to raise awareness. 

The Assistant Commissioner stressed the critical role of parents in educating children, particularly girls, about their rights and the dangers of child marriage and sexual relationships at a young age. 

“We must warn our children about the consequences of these harmful practices,” she said. “Parents need to be vigilant and proactive in protecting their children from predators.” 

United Nations concerned

UN Resident Coordinator Amanda Mukwashi said Lesotho is among the top six or seven countries in the world per capita for GBV.

She noted that this figure is not just a number but a reflection of the deep challenges Lesotho faces in addressing violence against women and girls.  “The food insecurity situation in the country is likely to worsen the situation,” Mukwashi said at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence on November 25, 2024.

She added: “I do believe that the situation has probably already worsened since October, according to the Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment Report. A third of the population are experiencing food insecurity.

 “And some of the visits that I have made out into the districts suggest that already mothers and girls and their daughters are resorting to providing sexual services in exchange for food or money.”

Mukwashi said the increase in sexual exploitation and abuse happens when women are left with no alternatives. They are forced to provide sexual services in exchange for basic needs—food, money, or safe passage,” she explained.

 “I wish I could say that doesn’t happen here in Lesotho, but it does.” 

Mukwashi emphasized that GBV is not just a moral issue; it is an economic and societal catastrophe.

She referred to findings from a Commonwealth study conducted in Lesotho, which revealed that GBV costs the government over 5.5 percent of its GDP annually.

“This is money that could have been used to invest in digitization, to improve education, to enhance healthcare systems, or to create opportunities for economic growth,” she said. 

She expressed her dismay at the persistent difficulty of mobilising resources to fight GBV.

“Why is it so hard to raise money to fight gender-based violence?” Mukwashi asked, her frustration palpable.

 “Is it because women don’t matter? Are we at the bottom of the priority list? Truly, money is easily found for other things, but when it comes to asking for resources to stop violence, it feels like we are begging and pleading.” 

“This breaks my heart,” she said.

 “We are not asking for luxuries. We are asking for resources to stop violence and ensure that women and girls can live in peace, whether at home, in classrooms, in the workplace, or in the streets.”