Quthing ___ The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence GBV has been celebrated at Bolula primary school at Ha-Mohlakoana.
The event on the theme 'Unite to end violence against women and children' organized by Mokotjomela Area Programme of World Vision Lesotho was intended to sensitize the Community from the area with child protection issues and GBV.

Speaking on behalf of the District Child Protection Team (DCPT) at the same event, the Quthing SOS Children 's Village Alternative Care Coordinator Ms. Ts'ooana Letela appealed to different public groups in the area to work hand in hand to fight all types of abuse against women.and children
She highlighted that the department of Social Development is working hand in hand with development partners to ensure that all children go to school despite their poverty status, and their basic needs are met as well, thus the community should ensure that all children at their villages go to school.

Ms. Letela said child marriage is also a challenge in the district, and called different public groups to protect a girl child from early marriage.
She further appealed to adults from the area to establish or join income generation projects to fight poverty and hunger since they are the main sources of GBV.

Lance Surgent Lironts'o Shale from Child and Gender Protection Unit (CGPU) of the Quthing Police Charge office said Children 's rights go with responsibilities hence children should ensure that they take their responsibility to go to school.
She stated that Child marriage, teenage pregnancy and child labour are serious concerns; including children that are left alone in families when their parents have gone to South Africa for employment purposes.

She said unity is power, adding that the community should join efforts in a fight against all acts of child and women abuse at the villages through reporting of such cases to their Chiefs, Crime Prevention committees and the Police to win a fight against GBV.

The World Vision, Safeguarding Advocacy and Community Development Officer Mrs. 'Malefela Lefunyane, raised concern over the high rate of child negligence in the district as it led to high cases of child-headed households.

She stated that children aged from 15 are left with their younger brothers and sisters to take care of them while parents have left families for employment purposes.

Mrs. Lefunyane said children need protection, adding that it is an abuse to give them responsibilities of a parent or guardian, when they need guidance and protection in their daily lives
The Chairperson of Telle Community Council Child Protection Team (CCCPT) Mr. Everustus Masoetsa expressed gratitude for the event that has motivated them stop considering some habits of child abuse as normal, such as giving children greater responsibilities as taking of each during long time absence of a parent, and hard work that needs much physical strength.

One of the attendants at the event Mrs. 'Makhauta Letsoisa said the event has been educational since they have acquired knowledge on how to prevent and fight children and women abuse.
The event was attended by residents from different villages in Ha-Mohlakoana that include Chache, Bolula, Nonyana, Likhokhotsing, Moeaneng, Letsatseng, Manyalasing and Lintlheng.

The District Child Protection Team is formed with district stakeholders in Child Protection issues from government and non-government institutions. It is led by the Department of Social Development.

This was the first event of its kind to be held in the district since International Day of 16 Days of Activism against GBV started on Monday this week.