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Senate Approves Resolution Recognizing the Kingdom of Lesotho

On March 9, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a resolution (S. Res. 103) commending the Kingdom of Lesotho on the occasion of International Women’s Day, for enactment of a law to improve the status of married women and ensure the access of married women to property rights.

The resolution has a number of findings, including:

  • legislation elevating the legal status of married women and providing property and inheritance rights to women in Lesotho was introduced as early as 1992;
  • for years women’s groups, nongovernmental organizations, the Federation of Women Lawyers, officials of the Government of Lesotho, and others in Lesotho have pushed for passage of legislation strengthening rights of married women; and
  • the MCC [Millennium Challenge Corporation] has promulgated and is currently implementing a new gender policy to integrate gender into all phases of the development and implementation of the Compact between the MCC and the Government of Lesotho.Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) said, “The MCC helped catalyze the passage of the Legal Capacity of Married Persons law in Lesotho by stressing that potential MCC financing would be more effective if gender equity were addressed…Under this new legislation, women are considered equal partners in marriage and are able to enter into binding contracts and have a standing in civil court. We applaud the Kingdom of Lesotho for demonstrating such a commitment to justice, equality, and fighting corruption at every level.”