Lesotho’s Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development, Pitso Lesaoana, led a delegation to the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York. The virtual session, held from March 11th to 22nd, focused on achieving gender equality and lasting peace.
Lesaoana stressed the need to dismantle systemic and structural inequalities that perpetuate gender disparities. He argued that development programs must address the burden of care work, which disproportionately falls on women in poverty. These long hours of both paid and unpaid labor deplete their human capabilities, hindering progress.
Lesotho championed innovative solutions beyond the main session. They hosted a side event titled “Addressing gender-based violence, hunger and poverty through beekeeping in Lesotho.” This event showcased the positive impact of economic projects in tackling gender-based violence. Participants from various organizations and NGOs expressed keen interest in learning from Lesotho’s experience and forging partnerships.
The delegation also met with representatives from the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) to discuss potential collaboration on peace education initiatives. Additionally, they held a productive meeting with Dr. Arjoon Suddhoo, representing the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General. Dr. Suddhoo reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting capacity building efforts for Lesotho’s parliamentarians on gender-responsive budgeting. This initiative aims to ensure budgets allocate resources effectively towards achieving gender equality.