As way of participating in the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence campaign, the National University of Lesotho (NUL), through the Gender Steering Committee hosted a Gender Dialogue on the 28th November, 2019 at Netherlands Hall, Roma.
This event also marked the launch of the University’s process of developing an institutional gender policy that will ensure that the University lives up to its mandate to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals and build an inclusive society that lives at peace with itself.
The Dialogue has provided a platform from which the NUL community and key stakeholders were engaging in a conversation on pertinent gender issues that affect both students and staff.
A gender situational analysis of the University was presented and interrogated. Students’ voices were also captured through a panel of students who shared their lived gender experiences on and off campus.
NUL has a mandate to contribute to an inclusive society and sustainable development. The current NUL Strategic Plan has identified gender equality as one of the niche areas to be improved through research. However, gender equality issues are not directed by any policy provisions, gender curriculum is scattered around faculties without any clear policy guidance.
Although there has not been any gender audit of the institution, anecdotal evidence shows that gender inequality exists in different forms and gender based-violence is believed to be rampant on and off campus. The absence of a sexual harassment policy has been blamed for the continuing violations of students’ sexual rights.
In order to address the gender gaps in the processes, practices and curriculum at NUL, a Gender Action Plan has been developed under the auspices of Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community, Centre Distance Education (SADC-DCE).
Among others, the Gender Action Plan identifies necessary strategies and actions to ensure gender equality and gender mainstreaming in all the operations of the University. The Gender Steering Committee has thus been established to oversee implementation of the Gender Action Plan and for the time being to act as the Gender focal point for the University.
