Opening remarks by H.E. Paola Amadei, Ambassador of the European Union to Lesotho at the END GBV EVENT – 25th November 2023
Allow me to pay my respects to His Majesty King Letsie III and Her Majesty the Queen ‘Masenate,
The Right Honourable the Prime Minister, Ntsokoane Sam Matekane,
Honourable Ministers in His Majesty’s Cabinet, in particular,
The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Justice Nthomeng Justina Majara,
The Honourable Minister of Law and Justice, Hon. Richard Ramoeletsi,
The Honourable Minister of Gender, Youth, and Social Development, Hon. Pitso Lesaoana,
The Honourable Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, Hon. Lebona Lephema,
His Lordship the Chief Justice Sakoane Sakoane,
Their Excellences Heads of Diplomatic missions and members of the diplomatic community,
Representatives of Government Ministries,
Representatives of Civil Society Organisations, and particularly World Vision and Sesotho Media & Development,
Representatives of the Media,
Bo-‘M’e le Bo-Ntate,
All participants in today’s event,
Khotsong,
It is my great pleasure to mark today the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women together with our partners Alliance Française, World Vision Lesotho and Sesotho Media and Development, to kick off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
This campaign seeks to highlight that gender-based violence is “a universal phenomenon which takes many forms across culture, race, and class” and is a violation of human rights. UN Women’s theme of this year’s global campaign is “Unite! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.”
Globally, one in three women faces violence from a partner or sexual violence in her lifetime, regardless of her background, culture, ethnic origin, age or religion. In Lesotho, according a study by Gender Links from 2016, 86% of women in the country have experienced gender-based violence in their lifetime.
As European Union, we invest in prevention and protection, which are fundamental pillars in the fight against gender-based violence. Prevention is a key to break the vicious circle that perpetuates violence. Protection ensures safeguarding the immediate well-being of victims-survivors.
Breaking the silence surrounding violence against women and LGBITQ+ is an urgent imperative, in order to break the taboo and break the stigma. Gender-based violence is not a private issue, not a women’s issue, but an issue for the whole society. By combatting gender-based violence, the whole society benefits.
To this end, the European Union supports different initiatives in Lesotho, to ensure that women and youth are at the centre of inclusive economic growth and can access financing for their businesses, that they can easily access justice, including by creating child-friendly courts and reinforcing legal aid, and that they are effectively protected by public forces such as the Lesotho Mounted Police Services. Our partners World Vision and Sesotho Media and Development are here today, in their stands, to explain you what we are doing together to end gender based violence in Lesotho.
Finally, addressing violence against women and girls requires a comprehensive and transformative approach that tackles the root causes at the normative, societal, cultural, and individual levels. We need to take into account intersecting vulnerabilities, including women and girls with disabilities, persons belonging to minorities, migrant women and girls, LGBTIQ+ persons. Last week, ahead of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, I was honoured to participate in a vigil organised by Matrix Lesotho (whom I thank for being here with us today!).
The EU's mission is clear: champion gender equality and empower women across policies.
Thank you for being here today and we encourage you to sign our 16 Days of Activism pledge wall – located just behind you – where you are can either add your signature or write down a more personal pledge. But even more than that we also encourage you to implement this pledge in your everyday life so that together we can finally eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, and in general end gender-based violence.
With this I would like to pass the floor onto Maphakisane Letlola, our EU mentee, and to the Youth Parliamentarians, to give us the perspectives of young people on these very important topics.
Thank you once again for coming and joining us today.