GENEVA – Lesotho presented its commitment to humanitarian and development support for refugees at the 76th Session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday.
The session, organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, brings together member states annually to review programmes and budgets and to assess progress in reducing statelessness and protecting refugees and forcibly displaced persons.
Honourable Lebona Lephema, Minister of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police, delivered Lesotho’s statement, detailing the country’s recent initiatives. These include an ongoing study on statelessness and updates to the legal framework on refugee protection to meet international standards. Minister Lephema said Lesotho remains committed to providing support for refugees and finding long-term solutions despite limited resources.
During the session, Minister Lephema called on the international community to continue collaborating on statelessness and to ensure that humanitarian funding remains consistent.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Minister met with South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Njabulo Nzuza, to discuss bilateral issues, including the proposed migration model for both countries and the renewal of the Lesotho Exception Permit, now extended until May 2027.
The Lesotho delegation to the session included Ambassador to Switzerland His Excellency Tsiu Khatibe, Deputy Principal Secretary Nkhotha Machachamise, Acting Commissioner of Refugees Fumane Tholoana-Mareli, and First Secretary at the embassy Konesoang Bereng.
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