State Report Validation Workshop: Lesotho National Periodic Review – 2019/2020

HIS MAJESTY KING LETSIE III

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER

HONOURABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

HONOURABLE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

HIS LORDSHIP THE PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL

HER LADYSHIP THE CHIEF JUSTICE

THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

HONORABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT

IN PARTICULAR THE HOUNOURABLE MINISTER OF LAW, CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

THEIR LORDSHIPS JUDGES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL AND THE HIGH COURT

YOUR EXCELLENCIES MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS

PRINCIPAL SECRETARIES

HEADS OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS AND PARASTATAL ENTERPRISES

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDIA HOUSES

DEAR UN COLLEAGUES

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,  ALL PROTOCOL OBSERVED. 

 On behalf of the United Nations in Lesotho, I am honoured to make remarks at the Validation Workshop of the State Report on the Universal Periodic Review. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a universal mechanism that all member states of the United Nations undergo to assess the status of all human rights in their country. 

 

The UPR was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006 and is carried out by an inter-governmental working group of the Human Rights Council. The objective of the UPR is to review the fulfilment of the human rights commitments and obligations of all 193 UN member states as set out in:  

a) The UN Charter;  

b) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

c) Human rights instruments to which the State is party (or human rights treaties ratified by the State concerned);  

d) Voluntary pledges and commitments made by the State (e.g. national human rights policies and/or programmes implemented); and

e) Applicable international humanitarian law.

 The UPR is a state-driven peer review mechanism, whereby all the UN member States are reviewed on the same terms. 

 

I would like to commend Lesotho for successfully going through the first and second cycle of UPR that generated a number of recommendations. The Government of Lesotho has actively engaged with the UPR since 2010. This is testimony to the country’s growing commitment to reporting on its human rights situation and cooperation with international human rights mechanisms. Lesotho’s most recent participation was in January 2015 where it accepted 138 recommendations. The country is now in its 3rd cycle of review scheduled for January-February 2020 where it will inform the international community on the progress made in the realization of the human rights of Basotho.   

 

Allow me to stress that timely, meaningful and objective reporting to the Universal Periodic Review provides an opportunity to Governments to know their own national situation through legislative and policy review and meaningful data collection. This helps to monitor progress and to promote, protect and fulfil human rights. It helps raise awareness on human rights among its population and enlist assistance from different segments of the Basotho. Reporting creates an opportunity for national dialogue, ensures an intergovernmental coordinated response to address human rights concerns. 



I would like also to reiterate that submitting a report to the Universal Periodic Review Process is one part of a larger cycle, which includes follow-up to the recommendations and should improve implementation of obligations that are also set out in the human rights treaties. Lesotho received a good number of recommendations from the first and second cycle UPR. I would like to take this opportunity to call on the Government to take more concrete measures to implement recommendations. 

 

Many States have realised that a more comprehensive, sustainable and efficient approach to reporting and follow-up is needed. This is due to the huge demands not only of Treaty Bodies but also the Regional Human Rights System, Human Rights Council’s UPR and visits by mandate holders of Special Procedures. States are increasingly improving their governmental structures to engage with international and regional human rights mechanisms by setting up National Mechanisms for Reporting and Follow-up (NMRF). I use this opportunity to call on the Government of Lesotho to establish a NMRF.  

 

NMRF is a permanent national governmental mechanism that is mandated to coordinate and prepare reports to and engage with international and regional human rights mechanisms (including treaty bodies, the universal periodic review and special procedures). It is instrumental in coordinating and tracking national follow-up and implementation of the treaty obligations and the recommendations emanating from these mechanisms.  

 

It should be noted that because of the ever-increasing reporting obligations that countries have both at regional and international levels, many including Lesotho experience reporting back-logs. This hinders their ability to significantly advance their human rights agendas as they would not benefit from the feedback and quality assurance inherent to the review processes including the adoption of good practices that further human rights.  

 

With NMRF, the burden of reporting on countries would ease, there would be greater sharing of the reporting responsibility within Ministries, coordination and information sharing across Ministries and amongst stakeholders would improve. Moreover, monitoring and follow-up of recommendations would be streamlined and centralized, especially if accompanying databases for tracking are also set up. 

 

The UN in Lesotho stands ready to support the Government of Lesotho with the establishment of the NMRF. This is in line with the UN’s technical support to Lesotho to expedite the submission of long overdue reports. The current mission by Mr Jean Fokwa from the Regional Office of the High Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR) is a demonstration of such UN support. 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, This State Report Validation Workshop provides an opportunity to review and improve the draft report. It also provides the opportunity to highlight the importance of continuous and sustainable engagement on human right issues through the setting up of a National Mechanism on Reporting and Follow-Up (NMRF).  

 

While reporting for the most part is often State driven, in the preparation of these reports the involvement of non-state actors is mandatory and in line with the human right to participation. As such, colleagues in the media, NGOs including those who work with youth, women, children, people living with disability and faith-based organizations all have roles to play in the process of reporting on international human rights mechanisms.  

 

In line with this, I am glad to report that the Lesotho UNCT and Civil Society Organisations led by the Transformation Resources Centre (TRC) successfully submitted two UPR reports on 18 July 2019. I am confident that the State UPR Report will also be submitted on time in October 2019.  

It should be underlined that UPR is closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In its preamble, Agenda 2030 states that the SDGs seek to realize the human rights of all.  Agenda 2030 is guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including full respect for international law. It is grounded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international human rights treaties. The UPR is one of many vehicles through which we can achieve this. As we all know, this year Lesotho successful completed its SDG Voluntary National Review (VNR) and UN is proud to be a key partner during the review. 

 

The 17 SDGs and many of their 169 targets and 241 indicators are closely linked to specific human rights with most of them relating to economic, social and cultural rights. One of the key human rights principles is that of non-discrimination and equality. The Leave No One Behind principle is clearly premised on this fundamental ethos. We must consider, in practical terms, how to implement the SDGs in line with international human rights norms and standards while also ensuring that recommendations from international human rights mechanisms should guide implementation of the SDGs. An integrated approach and creating synergies between the SDGs, UPR and other international reporting with national processes would promote policy coherence and enhance the effectiveness of the national development strategic plan.  

 

As I conclude, I wish to reiterate that the UN in Lesotho is committed to supporting the Government to promote human rights and SDGs for the good of the deserving people of Lesotho.  

 

I wish you all a productive and informative Validation Workshop. 

 

Khotso Pula Nala