The 60th Session of the Human Rights Council

8th September 2025- 8th October 2025

Lesotho Universal Periodic Review

(25th September 2025)

Joint Statement of International Lawyers.Org, International Organisation for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination and Association Ma’onah for Human Rights and Immigration

Delivered by Rose Chiara Atieno

Thank you

Firstly, we would like to commend the government of Lesotho on their active engagement with the UPR mechanism. Their engagement shows a deep commitment to the upholding and implementation of human rights within their country and thus shows their willingness and compliance with international law. Specifically, we commend the government for the progress they have made in enhancing access to education for children by granting free education. Additionally, we commend their efforts in facilitating easier access to healthcare across different regions.

Although Lesotho has made decent strides in strengthening their human rights framework, there is still sufficient room for improvement. As echoed during the UPR session, gender-based violence continues to be a grave issue within the country. Women and girls continue to face risks that undermine their safety, dignity, and equality. Therefore, we urge Lesotho to take concrete steps to strengthen legal protections, ensure prompt investigations, prosecutions and expand survivor centred support services.

Pertaining to the death penalty, although Lesotho has a de facto abolishment on the active practice, they have failed to fully implement the full abolishment of the death penalty into law. As such, we strongly urge Lesotho to fully abolish the death penalty, both in law and practice.

We remain concerned about the shrinking space for civil society and the lack of meaningful opportunities for independent actors to engage across the country. Civil Society organisations play a crucial role in advancing democratic governance, accountability, and human rights protection.

Lesotho has a critical opportunity to make transformative progress in strengthening its human rights framework and fully honoring its international obligations especially when it pertains to women and girls. Human rights are never fully fulfilled if women and girls are not afforded their basic rights and as such, this issue must be addressed. We encourage Lesotho to take a gender-based approach in their implementation of the recommendations given during this session and we thank the government for their continued dedication to human rights and their continued engagement with the UPR.

Thank you.