Lesotho: Boys and their bodies: navigating Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights

The article examines how adolescent boys in Lesotho are growing up with limited guidance on sexual and reproductive health and rights, despite facing puberty, relationships, consent and legal risks. Through personal accounts from boys in Qacha’s Nek, the story shows how misinformation, silence and stigma leave many confused about bodily changes, sexuality, age-of-consent laws and responsibility. 

Teachers, parents and elders describe discomfort and lack of capacity to engage boys in meaningful discussions, while life-skills education faces gaps in training and resources. The article highlights the consequences of these gaps, including unintended pregnancies, statutory rape cases involving adolescents, and harmful myths around masculinity, consent and sexuality. 

The story situates these experiences within national policy responses and programming by government and partners, including adolescent health initiatives, male engagement strategies and herdboy programmes. It argues that excluding boys from comprehensive, sustained SRHR education undermines gender equality, public health and legal protection, and calls for community-based, inclusive approaches that recognise boys as beneficiaries in their own right.

LINK TO PUBLISHED STORY

https://www.lena.gov.ls/lesotho-boys-navigate-sexual-health-with-few-guides/

This article, first published by Lesotho News Agency, is part of the  Media Parity Capacity Building and republished as part of the programme series.