New Office for Child Protection Handed Over to Pitseng Police Station

By: Malefu Letshoha, Journalist, The Saturday Times, Lesotho

Leribe, Lesotho - In a significant stride towards the protection and safety of children, World Vision Lesotho has officially handed over a new Child and Gender Protection Unit (CGPU) office to the Pitseng Police Station. The initiative, born from a collaboration between the community, World Vision, and the Lesotho Mounted Police service, aims to create a more welcoming and secure space for children to report abuse and receive support. Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police in Leribe, Khethang Tenane, expressed gratitude for the donation and highlighted the urgent need that prompted the construction of the office.

 "Since 2016, Lesotho Mounted Police Service and World Vision have partnered through a Memorandum of Understanding to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of children," he said. "Previously, children had to wait in long queues and share reporting space with adults, which discouraged them from coming forward. This office addresses that concern."

The handover also follows police concerns that children felt unsafe and intimidated when reporting incidents in the general police environment. With the new facility, trained officers can now provide child-friendly services in a more private and sensitive manner.  World Vision Lesotho National Director, James Chifwelu, emphasized that the project was community-driven and not imposed from the outside.

 " This is a demand-led project. The community, through the Citizen Voice and Action (CVA), played a key role in its realization," Chifwelu stated. " Our collaboration with the police is rooted in a deep commitment to children's rights. We've also provided over 10,000 sexual assault medical forms, which are crucial for legal proceedings in abuse cases"

He added that World Vision's broader mission includes addressing child trafficking, child labour, and other human rights violations. "Without the police, enforcement of these protections would not be possible," Chifwelu said. Representing the youth, Mafolofolo Nakhotla welcomed the development, calling the CGPU office a safe space for children.

 " We ask the police to increase personnel dedicated to children's rights and establish a dedicated hotline for children's safety," he urged.

Deputy Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Police and Public Safety, Johane Masiea, echoed the need for increased support and vigilance.

 " The statistics of children affected by violence are alarming. Protecting them is not just a responsibility but a necessity for our future," he said. 

He also acknowledged additional support from World Vision, including the donations of a vehicle, 10,000 medical forms, 5000 child detention forms, and 200 suggestion boxes. Closing the ceremony, Commissioner of Police, Matsoso Borotho praised World Vision Lesotho for their commitment. 

"You have closed a gap we struggled to fill. This oofice is a reminder of our duty to the children of this nation," he said.

The new CGPU office marks a vital step in strengthening child protection services in Pitseng and sets a model for community-driven collaboration in ensuring children's safety across Lesotho