VZCZCXRO2032
PP RUEHMR
DE RUEHMR #0455/01 2561619
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131619Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2283
INFO RUEHOR/AMEMBASSY GABORONE PRIORITY 0258
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 2597

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000455 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/RSA; AFR/DP/PAB; AND AFR/SD 
GABORONE FOR USAID/RCSA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EAID SOCI XA LT
SUBJECT: LESOTHO: OBLIGATION OF FY06 DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS FUND 
(DHRF) II 
 
REF: HARPOLE/AF-HRIGHTS-DL E-MAIL DTD AUGUST 24, 2006 
 
¶1.      Total FY06 allocation received for Maseru Democracy and 
Human Rights Fund (DHRF) is USD 30,000.  USAID legal and 
accounting offices have reviewed the draft agreements and the 
USAID accounting office is expected to finalize the obligations 
upon notification of signing of agreements by post.  Five DHRF 
projects are being funded for the entire amount and the 
agreement date for all was September 13, 2006 .  It is 
anticipated that projects will be completed by September 30, 
¶2007. 
 
¶2.      Project details follow: 
 
¶A.  632-DHRF-06-001 - The Law Office 
Project Description:  As an integral part o the Attorney 
General's Chambers falling under the Ministry of Law and 
Constitutional Affairs, the Law Office is the government 
department under the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs 
whose main function is to assist with prosecution of cases on 
behalf of the state in subordinate courts. The department has 
offices in all ten districts of Lesotho that are plagued by the 
shortage of law books for research so as to enable them to make 
reasonable arguments for the courts of law to reach a just 
decision. In administrative law parlance, the Office of the 
Director of Public Prosecutions is referred to as the office of 
impartiality. The Director of Public Prosecutions serves in this 
high office without fear, favor or prejudice.  This is clearly 
exemplified by the Ministry's Mission Statement which runs thus: 
"we, the Ministry of Law and Constitutional Affairs, are 
committed to providing timely and efficient legal services to 
government and the public with the aim of upholding the 
Constitution and the rule of law, and promoting good 
governance".  The Law Office requests financial support to 
purchase law books.  No USG funds will be used to assist law 
enforcement entities, as proscribed by US law and regulations. 
Amount of Grant: $5,000.00 
¶B. 632-DHRF-06-002 -  Ts'epong Counseling Center 
Project Description: Empower women to regain their positive 
self-image through training. Training activities are to 
conscientize women to shun acts of violence and produce a cadre 
of women who will fill positions in governance in the local 
structures as well as national government so creating women who 
can impact on the legal systems and administrations that 
discriminate and impact negatively on gender equality. 
Amount of Grant:  $10,000.00 
¶C.  632-DHRF-06-003 - Transformation Resource Center (TRC) 
Project Description:  Formed in 1979, TRC is an ecumenical and 
non-governmental membership organization that serves a resource 
center for all those committed to work for Peace, Justice and 
Participatory Development in Lesotho and throughout the region. 
It operates the following four projects: Work for Justice, 
Democracy Project, Resource Center, and Lesotho Highlands Water 
Monitoring, Advocacy and Empowerment Project. Grant funds will 
be used to hold three two-day workshops for 50 people to provide 
them with conflict management skills so that they may be able to 
practice those skills in their communities, homes, at work and 
in schools. Targeted areas are Thaba Bosiu, Matsieng and Ha 
Maama. It also aims at enhancing civic and voter education 
towards building effective participation of citizens in 
governance issues. Introduction of conflict management in these 
three ward councils will help the councilors to develop 
strategies and skills that help them prevent, manage and resolve 
conflicts constructively and non-violently. 
Amount of Grant: $5,000.00 
¶D.  632-DHRF-06-004 - Maseru Women Senior Citizens' Association 
Project Description: Grant funds will be used to fulfill the 
organization's objective that women in the target areas of 
Maseru, Mafeteng, Mohale's Hoek, Quthing and Thaba Tseka know 
their rights as women regarding land ownership and inheritance 
(Customary and Roman Dutch Laws). A series of training workshops 
for members, local leaders and communities in the above 
districts are planned to be carried. 
Amount of Grant:  $7,000.00 
¶E.  632-DHRF-06-005 -  Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental 
Organisations (LCN) 
Project Description:  LCN is an umbrella body for NGOs in 
Lesotho whose main responsibility is to provide support services 
to the NGO community at large. Project components and activities 
consist of the following: review of the voter education 
material, development of the voter education material, training 
of trainers on voter education, voter education of the 
electorates, training of elections' observers, elections 
campaigns forums, electoral process monitoring teams, elections 
observers deployment, electoral process evaluation conference, 
and electoral process evaluation in readiness for the 2007 
General Elections. 
Amount of Grant: $3,000.00 
¶3.      Fund citations for the above are:  Appropriation 
726/71021; Activity No. 6980588.32; FUND DV/2006; and EOC 
 
MASERU 00000455  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶4100200. 
MURPHY