United Nations supports Government initiatives

THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND REPRESENTATIVE TO LESOTHO, DR. MARC DERVEEUW

Applaud the Ministry of Development Planning for the leadership in the Nairobi Summit on Accelerating the ICPD agenda which was held in Nairobi in November 2019. The Kingdom of Lesotho was among the more than 170 countries that participated in the summit in which more than 9,500 delegates from over 170 countries participated.

Delegates included top government officials, parliamentarians, thought leaders, technical experts, religious leaders, activists and community organizers, young people, business leaders, indigenous people, international financial institutions, people with disabilities, academics and many others.

Lesotho was represented by among others Her Majesty Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso and the Minister of Development Planning Dr Tlohelang Aumane who presented the country’s commitment which is focusing on ensuring the full, effective and accelerated implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Congratulate the Government of Lesotho on the commitment to procure Family Planning Commodities and express hope that this pledge will soon be implemented so as to expand access to contraceptives.

Commend the Implementing Partners on their valued contribution towards attainment of UNFPA’s four transformative results;

Ending preventable maternal deaths

Ending Unmet need for family planning

Ending Gender Based Violence and harmful practices and 

Ending transmissible diseases including HIV through, among others, development of policies and strategies and reaching communities, including hard to reach communities with information and services on HIV, SRHR, GBV and Family Planning.   

Recognizing the potential of climate change to impede the quest to achieve development, highlight the successes of the CERF project which was implemented in 2019. The aim of the CERF project was to provide protection and prevention of Gender Based Violence in drought affected communities as research had shown that incidences of GBV increase in times of emergency. A similar project will be implemented in 2020.

• Congratulate and acknowledge Ministry of Development Planning for leadership in coordinating the 7th country program and all the UNFPA implementing partners’ 2019 achievements and 

•  Pledge continued support to the Government of Lesotho and the Implementing Partners in their contribution towards reaching the set goals of the 7th Country Program which include creating an enabling environment through strengthened policy, legal and accountability frameworks that advance gender equality and empower women and young people, especially adolescent girls, to exercise their reproductive rights and to be protected from violence and harmful practices.