MASERU - A group of civic organizations has launched a document on a research made in 2019 on the legal gender recognition in Lesotho aimed at analyzing national laws and policies in the context of international best practices.

The research brief provides information and guidance on the interpretation of the legal framework and the challenges faced by transgender and gender non-conforming people in obtaining legal gender recognition in Lesotho.

The research was undertaken by the Matrix People’s Association in partnership with the South African Litigation Centre (SALC), the Women and Law in Southern Africa Lesotho (WLSA) along with local independent activists.

MATRIX is a local civic body that is dedicated to advancing human rights in Lesotho, with a particular focus on Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression (SSOGIE).

The outfit popularly known as MATRIX visualizes a country free of all forms of moral prejudice and discrimination and a country where there are justice and freedom for all. Speaking at the launch that was held in Maseru on November 5, the Executive Director of MATRIX Tampose Mothopeng 

said the report deals with legal recognition and protection of human rights based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression in Lesotho.“It brings together the facts and experiences of the Transgender community in Lesotho, critical analysis, and interpretation of the national framework. “Crucially, the report pushes us to think about the harmonization of the legal framework, implementation, and adoption of international best practices.”