By Noliwe Tlamane
Somewhere in Lesotho almost every, a woman goes to sleep beside the man who beats her, somewhere else, a young girl sits quietly with the unbearable weight of sexual violence buried deep inside her heart, terrified that nobody will believe her if she speaks and somewhere, behind the walls of silence and pride, a man hides bruises no one expects him to have because society taught him that “Monna ke nku ha lle”, a man does not cry.
Across villages, towns and cities in Lesotho, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continues to thrive behind closed doors, hidden beneath fear, shame, stigma and silence. It is a painful reality destroying families, stealing dignity and leaving emotional wounds that many survivors carry for a lifetime. While statistics paint a horrifying picture, they still fail to reveal the full truth.
According to organisations such as Gender Links, nearly 87 percent of women and girls in Lesotho have experienced some form of Gender-Based Violence in their lifetime. Yet for many stakeholders fighting the crisis, numbers alone can never truly capture the depth of the suffering. Behind every statistic is a face, a traumatised child, a grieving mother, a woman robbed of her dignity, a man too ashamed to ask for help, a survivor silently battling emotional scars long after physical wounds have healed and perhaps the most dangerous thing about GBV is not only the violence itself, but the silence protecting it.
As the Sesotho saying goes, “Lehlanya lea bokaneloa”, unity brings strength. It is this spirit that has brought together institutions such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency, government ministries, law enforcement agencies and media practitioners in a united effort to confront one of Lesotho’s most devastating social crises but among all these players, one institution possesses a uniquely powerful weapon in the fight against GBV, the media.
For years, many survivors have remained trapped in silence. Some fear public humiliation. Others fear retaliation from perpetrators. Many simply believe society will blame them instead of protecting them.
In communities where abuse has often been normalised, hidden or dismissed as a “family matter,” journalists now stand at the frontline of changing the national conversation.
As Lesotho continues battling the devastating effects of Gender-Based Violence, UNFPA remains at the forefront of efforts to protect survivors, strengthen prevention strategies and empower communities to break the cycle of abuse. Through advocacy, survivor-centred services, policy support and partnerships with government, civil society and the media, UNFPA’s mission extends far beyond responding to violence. It seeks to restore dignity, amplify vulnerable voices and build a society where women, girls and all citizens can live free from fear.
UNFPA Representative Mr. John Kennedy Mosoti warned that official figures do not tell the full story of GBV in Lesotho.
“Don’t even tell a lie,” he said candidly. “The numbers may be statistics, but they do not tell the truth.”
He explained that countless survivors continue suffering quietly, with many only whispering their pain to neighbours or trusted friends while others never disclose their abuse at all. This silence, he noted, remains one of the greatest barriers to ending GBV because it allows violence to continue unchecked inside homes and communities. It is here that the role of the media becomes indispensable. Journalists possess the power to reach every corner of the country and shape public understanding. Through ethical, survivor-centred and responsible reporting, the media can break the silence surrounding abuse, encourage survivors to seek help and inform communities about available support services.
“The media can influence attitudes and behaviour,” Mr. Mosoti said. “It can either reinforce harmful stereotypes or become a force for positive change.”
Indeed, the power of storytelling can either deepen wounds or inspire healing. A newspaper headline can retraumatise a survivor or restore hope, a radio programme can either shame victims into silence or encourage them to seek help, a television discussion can challenge generations of harmful beliefs and in a country where radio remains one of the most accessible forms of communication, media messages carry extraordinary influence.
A frightened survivor in a remote mountain village may hear a discussion on GBV while listening quietly beside a small radio, a mother reading a newspaper article may finally recognise signs of abuse affecting her child, a man silently enduring violence may, for the first time, realise he is not weak for seeking help because while women and girls remain disproportionately affected by GBV, men too are increasingly becoming victims of abuse yet their suffering often goes unnoticed.
The acting Director General at the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, Mrs. ’Mapuleng Secheche revealed that cases involving male victims continue to rise despite many remaining hidden behind silence.
In many communities, harmful beliefs surrounding masculinity discourage men from reporting abuse. Male survivors are mocked, dismissed or told to “be strong,” forcing many to suffer quietly without justice or support.
“Abuse knows no gender,” Mrs. Secheche stressed. “No victim should suffer in silence.”
She warned that failure to report abuse not only denies survivors justice but also allows perpetrators to continue harming others without consequence. For many male survivors, the fear of ridicule becomes more painful than the abuse itself. Some fear losing dignity, others fear nobody will believe them and so they continue suffering alone behind closed doors while society pretends they do not exist.
Mrs. Secheche emphasised that ending GBV requires collaboration between government, communities and the media.“The media has the power to educate communities, challenge stereotypes and encourage survivors to seek help,” she said.
Indeed, ethical journalism has become one of the most powerful tools in protecting survivors and reshaping society’s understanding of GBV.
Communications Assistant at UNFPA Ms. Violet Maraisane passionately urged journalists to remember that survivors are human beings before they become headlines.
“Journalists should never forget the emotional condition of a survivor,” she said.She cautioned against sensational reporting practices that expose identities, publish graphic images or retraumatise victims for the sake of attention.
“Ethical reporting protects dignity,” she stressed.
Her remarks reflected growing concern over the damage irresponsible reporting can cause.
A single social media post can expose survivors to public shame, a careless headline can destroy emotional healing, insensitive reporting can place victims at greater risk of rejection, stigma or further violence. But when handled responsibly, journalism can become a force for healing and justice, it can expose hidden abuse, it can encourage witnesses to come forward, it can pressure institutions to act but most importantly, it can remind survivors that they are not alone.
Senior Inspector Mojabeng Mokotjomela from the Lesotho Mounted Police Service painted an equally troubling picture of GBV trends in the country.
She revealed that Maseru continues recording the highest number of reported GBV cases while Mokhotlong and Mafeteng report alarming murder rates linked to Gender-Based Violence. Sexual abuse, physical violence and emotional abuse remain among the most common cases reported. Yet countless incidents still never reach police stations.
“Some survivors fear retaliation,” she explained. “Others fear being judged by society.”
She appealed to journalists to report carefully and responsibly by protecting identities and avoiding details that may endanger survivors.
Her words carried a painful truth: policing alone cannot end GBV. Communities themselves must change, families must reject silence, institutions must protect survivors and the media must continue educating the nation.
A journalist Mr. Majara Molupe believes the media cannot afford to remain passive observers in this fight. “The media possesses one of the most powerful tools in society, the ability to shape public opinion and influence behaviour,” he said.
Through radio, newspapers, television and digital platforms, journalists reach thousands of Basotho every day across both urban and rural communities. Through ethical reporting, the media can educate the public, challenge harmful cultural beliefs and encourage survivors to seek help.
“The stories we choose to tell and the manner in which we tell them can either reinforce silence or inspire change,” he said.
Mr. Molupe stressed that reporting on GBV must never exploit trauma for headlines.
Instead, journalism must restore dignity, protect survivors and promote justice. He further noted that the media also has a responsibility to hold institutions accountable by exposing failures within systems meant to protect victims while highlighting successful prevention efforts and survivor support programmes.
Investigative reporting, he said, can push authorities to strengthen laws, improve services and ensure perpetrators face justice. At the same time, informed discussions and awareness campaigns can challenge harmful stereotypes that continue fuelling violence and inequality.
Minister of Information, Communication, Science, Technology and Innovation Ms. Nthati Moorosi echoed similar sentiments, describing the media as one of the country’s most powerful tools in the fight against Gender-Based Violence.
“The media has the power to inform, educate and transform society,” she said.
“When journalists report responsibly and place survivors at the centre of their stories, they contribute towards building a nation that rejects violence and protects human dignity.” She urged journalists to report GBV cases with professionalism, sensitivity and respect for survivors’ dignity.
In a country where many victims still suffer in silence, she said, the media must continue serving as a voice for the voiceless and a catalyst for social change. Because ultimately, the fight against Gender-Based Violence will not be won by the government alone. It will require police officers who protect survivors.
Communities that reject violence, families that listen without judgment, institutions that provide support and journalists who report not for sensational headlines, but for justice, dignity and hope because beyond every statistic is a human life and sometimes, the power to save that life begins with telling the story the right way.
Gender Based Violence (GBV) remains one of the most serious social and human rights challenges facing Lesotho, affecting women, children and in some cases, men across both urban and rural communities. Studies by international and local organisations show that domestic violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and intimate partner violence continue to occur at alarming levels despite ongoing interventions by government and development partners.
According to data from the unicef.org GBV continues to threaten the safety and wellbeing of women and children in the country, contributing to mental health challenges, school dropouts, poverty and long-term trauma.
Statistics from the genderdata.worldbank.org indicate that about 27.8 percent of women aged between 15 and 49 in Lesotho have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. This means that nearly one in every three women has suffered physical or sexual violence from a husband or partner.
A 2020 Commonwealth study further revealed that domestic violence costs Lesotho approximately 5.5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), translating to more than M1.9 billion annually. The study also found that about one in three women in the country experience physical or sexual violence, mostly at the hands of intimate partners.
The situation is worsened by underreporting, especially among male survivors and children, due to stigma, fear, cultural norms and lack of confidence in reporting systems. Many survivors reportedly remain silent because of fear of discrimination, economic dependency, or concern about damaging family relationships.
The unfpa.org notes that Lesotho continues to face challenges linked to gender inequality, poverty and high HIV prevalence, all of which contribute to GBV. In response, government and development partners have increased investments in prevention programmes, survivor support services and awareness campaigns. In 2024 alone, UNFPA allocated significant funding towards ending GBV and harmful practices in Lesotho.
Experts also warn that the real scale of GBV may be much higher than available statistics suggest, as many cases are never reported to police or social services. Rural women, people living with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community are often considered among the most vulnerable groups.
Despite these challenges, Lesotho has made efforts to strengthen the fight against GBV through awareness campaigns, legal reforms, media engagement, community dialogues and partnerships with civil society organisations and international agencies.
