Mantoetse Maama
Maseru
Lesotho Arise Foundation (LAF), a non-governmental organisation which seeks to end domestic violence, was officially launched in Maseru on Friday.
According to the director of the foundation, Daniel Polaki, LAF was formed to ensure Lesotho becomes domestic violence-free.
“We have a huge problem of domestic violence in our country and it has never been resolved and that leads to increasing divorce rate. The study we made has revealed that the problem is not the victim only but the perpetrator as well. In most families, when there is fighting, the only person who receives counseling is the victim whereas the offender also needs to be counseled,” Polaki said.
“We are going to rehabilitate offenders of domestic violence, empower and re-unite ex-convicts with their families, rehabilitate young adults in conflict with the law, offer pre-marriage counseling, marriage preparation and enrichment.”
He said the organisation is meant to offer programmes that will help build marriages as most couples are breaking up.
On his part, the Senior Gender Officer in the Ministry of Gender, Sports and Recreation, Rannyaliseng Maanela said conflicts between couples also affect their children.
“Children whose parents have separated or divorced end up engaging in immoral activities that could have been avoided if their parents were together. In our ministry, there is a centre called Lapeng where we counsel victims and we have realized that there is high rate of women abuse in this country,” Maanela said, adding LAF has a huge responsibility to ensure there is peace in the home.
The Principal Secretary in the Police Ministry, Refiloe Matekane, promised the organisation all the support it might need.
“We promise to support this organisation as it will help our ministry in the challenges we are currently facing. Domestic violence cases and young adults who are involved in crime are too many and have become cause for concern,” he said.
Bishop Michael Kolisang, on his part, said time has passed when men would beat up their wives so they could abide by their rules.
“That time has passed and children should grow in a Godly environment,” Kolisang said.