International Women's Day 2014: Thoughts from Lesotho's Youth

In honour of International Women’s Day, students in Thaba Tseka met to discuss the challenges women face in Lesotho and their hopes for women's lives in the future. Students wrote their own answers to the following statements:

I need gender equity because…

            and

In the future I hope women in Lesotho will…

Every participant said that they wanted their statements to be shared so that other people would know what it is like to be a woman in Lesotho and what women hope their lives look like in the future.

Here is what young women (and one brave young man) wanted to share with all of you: 

"I need gender equity because..." 

"...it is not fair that the man's word is the final word." The young Basotho women in the workshop explained that the husband/father has the final say in the household. 

"...childbirth should not be a death sentence." Lesotho has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. It is one of the few countries in the world where the maternal mortality rate is not decreasing but increasing. 

"...women can make their own decisions." The young women in the workshop expressed that they wanted to be in control of their own lives. 

"...men and women should be equal partners in marriage." 

"...I want my sister to have a happy life."  

"...no woman should be raped." When asked what was the biggest challenge women face in Lesotho every participant except one stated rape. 

"..according to my thinking men should not be the only breadwinners in my country." These students said they had dreams for what they wanted to be and do in the future. They were tired of the "classic" family model. 

"...girls should NEVER be forced to marry their rapist." It's heartbreaking that sometimes when a girl is raped (in the rural areas), she and her rapist appear before the chief and her family is "compensated" for this dishonour through her marriage to the very man who raped her. 

"I hope in the future women will..." 

"...be seen as more than housewives." The young women in the workshop discussed how they wanted to be seen as more than the role society has assigned to them. They want to be taken seriously.

"...be free from fear." 

"...be equal to men." 

"I hope in the future women will not be the only ones caring for children." 

"I hope in the future a woman will be prime minister." 

"We DEMAND that women will not be judged or accused falsely. We DEMAND that leaders respect women's rights."