By Poloko Mokhele
The National Assembly this week finally passed the Counter Domestic Violence Bill 2021, a move seen as a potential victory for victims of domestic violence.
The Bill was initially tabled in the Lower House in April last year by gender, youth, sports and recreation minister, Likeleli Tampane.
The Counter Domestic Violence Bill 2021 aims to bring to an end the high rate of gender based violence. It seeks to introduce tough measures against perpetrators while ensuring protection of victims.
It encompasses a multidisciplinary approach to combating violence against everyone particularly women and children, such as coordination between law enforcement, social agencies and health care providers.
According to a study conducted by Gender Links Lesotho in 2013, “86 percent of women in Lesotho have experienced some form of violence at least once in their lifetime and only five percent who reported cases of abuse had the police open a docket for them.”
Tabling the Bill in the National Assembly on behalf of the minister of gender this week, the minister of law and justice, Lekhetho Rakuoane, told the House: “We have noted that women and children continue to be abused daily in our country and tough laws to protect them are not available, it is through this bill that we aim to ensure that protection.”
He added: “There two big agencies that will be established under this Bill to fight domestic violence and there are a home council and another one meant for restoration of justice which area chiefs will be part of because most of the domestic violence acts happen near chiefs.”
Rakuoane warned that there will also be institutions that will assist in educating people on how to curb domestic violence and how those near victims can notice it.
“The Bill also includes provisions for sensitisation, prevention and detection, as well as the rights of domestic abuse survivors. It also sets particular institutional procedures to handle domestic violence, as well as regulations and judicial protection for survivors, therefore I propose that this Bill pass and be accepted by this House” he said.
The Bill was passed with a major support from the members who commended government for bringing it before parliament.
The minister of tourism, environment and culture, Ntlhoi Motsamai, said domestic violence victims hardly get justice as some families tend to protect offenders saying the “issue is a family matter and this will now end through the enactment of the Bill”.
“You will remember honourable members that we took a vow to protect those who do not have the power to protect themselves. We usually hear stories of domestic violence victims not getting justice as some families say that is a family issue, today this is a win for them,” she suggested.
In his comments, National Independent Party (NIP) leader Kimetso Mathaba considered that abuse in all forms is painful as it deprives one’s dignity due to lack of justice. He urged those responsible to ensure that after being signed into law there is full implementation of it as most laws are passed but never implemented.
The Bill will now be read in the Upper House of parliament, the Senate and then taken to the National Assembly for final review before being taken to King Letsie III for the royal ascend.
