…to improve reporting and support for survivors of GBV
Seithati Motšoeneng
WORLD Vision Lesotho has donated a fully equipped Child and Gender Protection Unit (CGPU) to Morija Police Station, a significant boost aimed at improving the handling of child abuse and gender-based violence (GBV) cases at community level.
The facility was officially handed over on Friday as part of World Vision Lesotho’s broader efforts to create safer, more dignified spaces where survivors can report abuse, receive counselling and access justice without experiencing further trauma.
The new CGPU consists of three purpose-built spaces tailored to the needs of vulnerable survivors. These include a child-friendly playroom designed to help young victims feel at ease, a private counselling room for psychosocial support, and a dedicated office where police officers can interview survivors and manage cases in confidence.
The facility was designed to ensure privacy and separate survivors from the general police environment, which has often discouraged victims from reporting abuse.
Senior Inspector Petje Teke of the Police Headquarters CGPU Coordination Office said the new unit addresses one of the biggest obstacles to effective case management and reporting.
“Oftentimes, victims of abuse fail to report their cases because the environment already makes them feel like criminals when they are actually victims,” Snr Insp Teke said.
“Our police facilities sometimes do not have proper offices for the CGPU, making it even harder for victims to come forward.”
He said the physical environment plays a critical role in handling sensitive cases, particularly those involving children.
“It is important to make victims of abuse feel at home because they have already endured trauma.
“With these rooms, we can now interview, counsel and assist them with dignity and privacy.”
Snr Insp Teke revealed that gender-based violence accounts for a substantial share of the police’s daily caseload, with at least one in every three reported cases involving GBV. Children, he added, are among the most affected.
“The most common cases are rape, perpetrated by both older men and young boys,” he said.
He said the statistics highlight the urgent need for specialised facilities and trained personnel to respond appropriately to survivors.
World Vision Lesotho Deputy National Director, Maseisa Ntlama, said the handover forms part of the organisation’s continued support for the government efforts to prevent violence and protect vulnerable groups.
She noted that while Lesotho has clear laws and policy guidelines outlining how Child and Gender Protection Units should operate, implementation at many police stations has lagged behind.
“The laws are very clear on what proper CGPU units should look like, but over the years that has not been the case.
“That is why we have embarked on an initiative to help establish these units in order to improve the reporting and handling of GBV cases,” Ms Ntlama said.
She said World Vision has been working closely with the Lesotho Mounted Police Service and local communities to strengthen reporting mechanisms and expand access to psychosocial support.
“Our goal is not simply to provide buildings and furniture, but to contribute to a system where survivors feel safe enough to report abuse early and receive the support they need,” she said.