Lesotho

In 2018, the Government of Lesotho launched the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS), led by CDC as part of the Together for Girls partnership. The VACS measure multiple forms of violence against children and adolescents: sexual, physical, and emotional, and they provide important data on risk factors, protective factors, and consequences of violence.

In 2020, the Government of Lesotho launched their first VACS report with support from PEPFAR, CDC, UNICEF, and other partners.

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For an overview of the data found in Lesotho’s Violence Against Children Survey, download the Lesotho one-pager factsheet.

 

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Key highlights include:

 

15% of girls experienced sexual violence in childhood. 

 

18% of girls said their first experience of sexual intercourse was physically forced or coerced.

 

4% of girls who experienced physically forced or coerced sex before age 18 became pregnant.

57% of boys experienced physical violence in childhood.

 

5% of boys experienced sexual violence in childhood.

Download the report:

DOWNLOAD
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Lesotho is currently in the process of developing its response plan. Check back for more progress updates.

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Partners are currently working to prevent and respond to violence through advocacy and public awareness efforts. Stay tuned for updates!

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