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Campaigning for disability rights in Lesotho

Disabled people in Lesotho face many barriers which lead to poverty and isolation, including negative attitudes towards disability and a lack of national legislation to protect their human rights.  Advocacy and public education have an important role to play in reducing poverty and protecting the rights of disabled people. 

 

MatlekengIn 2007, we placed Adam Musgrave as an Advocacy Advisor with the Lesotho National Federation of Organisations for the Disabled (LNFOD).  During his two-year placement, Adam worked with his colleagues to plan a major advocacy campaign and develop a three-year strategy to establish national policy and legislation to protect the rights of disabled people.

 

One of Adam’s earliest achievements was co-ordinating a photo exhibition called Breaking the Barriers to challenge negative perceptions about disabled people.  The photos, including this one of Matlekeng who was born with autism, were taken by Eileen O’Leary.  In December 2007, the exhibition formed part of Lesotho’s celebrations of International Day for Persons with Disabilities, which started with a procession of 500 disabled people singing, dancing and waving placards through the centre of Teya Teyaneng.  

 

 

Advocacy disability in LesothoAdam recalls taking this photo of three women at the front of the procession:  “I hope the photo managed to capture the atmosphere of the march – it had a real carnival feel but there was also a serious message behind the celebrations.  It was amazing to see people with all kinds of disabilities coming together to celebrate their identity and demand their rights.”

 

Sharing skills

Achieving policy change in Lesotho is slow, but with Adam’s support LNFOD is fundamentally changing the government’s approach to disability.  Lesotho has joined the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and finalised its National Disability Policy.   

 

Adam’s advocacy and communication training increased the capacity of LNFOD and other disability organisations, which are now better equipped to raise awareness of the rights of disabled people and mobilise them to campaign for change.