Lesotho’s human rights record will come under scrutiny on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, when the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group examines the country for the fourth time. The session will take place in Geneva and will be webcast live.
Lesotho is among 14 States to be reviewed during the UPR Working Group’s current session, which opened today and runs until May 9, 2025. Lesotho’s previous UPR reviews were held in May 2010, January 2015, and January 2020.
According to a statement issued by the United Nations, the UPR Working Group consists of the 47 Member States of the Human Rights Council, though all 193 UN Member States are allowed to participate in the review process.
The review is based on three key documents: the national report submitted by the State under review; reports by independent human rights experts, known as Special Procedures, human rights treaty bodies, and other UN entities; and information provided by other stakeholders such as national human rights institutions and regional organizations.
The UPR is a peer review mechanism that assesses the human rights records of all UN Member States. Since its inception in April 2008, every Member State has undergone three review cycles.
During the fourth cycle, States are expected to report on the steps taken to implement the recommendations from previous reviews and to highlight recent developments in human rights within their territories.
Lesotho’s delegation to Geneva will be led by Richard Ramoeletsi, the Minister of Law and Justice.
