Maseru, Mar.09 – The Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Vodacom Lesotho Foundation, commemorated the 2026 International Women’s Day at an event held in Maseru on Monday.
This year’s celebration was held under the theme “Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls in Lesotho.”
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Prime Minister Justice Nthomeng Majara said the day serves as a moment of reflection and an important milestone for assessing progress achieved since International Women’s Day was first officially declared and commemorated.
She noted that the day also provides an opportunity to reaffirm commitment to raising awareness about challenges affecting women in all spheres of life. These include discrimination, bias, gender stereotypes, inequalities, marginalisation and limited opportunities, as well as violence and abuse against women and girls and issues related to reproductive rights.
Justice Majara added that sustained efforts towards achieving gender equality are reflected in strong international, regional and national human rights frameworks, which recognise gender equality not only as a legal obligation but also as a prerequisite for sustainable development, peace and inclusive governance.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development, Potso Lesaoana called on the global community to witness a transformative shift in which women and girls have full access to justice and protection of their human rights.
He emphasised the need for societies to reduce violence and ensure that justice systems guarantee safety and dignity for all women and girls.
Mr. Lesaoana urged stakeholders to envision a future where women are empowered to make important decisions about their own lives and actively participate in shaping economic development. He noted that empowering women and girls strengthens families and helps build communities that are more equitable and inclusive.
“It is unacceptable that many women and girls still lack access to justice,” he said, stressing that when women are empowered, societies become stronger and more peaceful.
He further highlighted the crucial role women play in promoting stability, noting that they are key to building sustainable peace.
Speaking at the same event, the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Taiji Kontinen-Sharp said this year’s theme calls for collective efforts towards creating a future where every woman and girl has access to justice, feels safe and is able to shape her future.
She noted that although Lesotho has made progress in empowering women, challenges remain. She cited findings from the Lesotho Demographic and Health Survey indicating that 42 percent of women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
Ms. Kontinen-Sharp added that despite these challenges, the country continues to make progress, particularly in the education sector, where girls’ enrolment in secondary schools surpasses that of boys.
She, however, stressed the importance of collective efforts to ensure that justice, safety and equal opportunities are accessible to all women and girls.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Vodacom Lesotho Foundation, Ts’epo Ntaopane reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to continue supporting the Government of Lesotho in advancing initiatives aimed at empowering women and girls across the country.
International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It also serves as a call to action for accelerating gender equality and addressing issues such as discrimination, gender-based violence and unequal opportunities.
Ends/NT/BM
