Lesotho: Role played by religious organisations in women empowerment with focus on widows

The article explores how religious organisations in Lesotho play a significant role in empowering widows by providing spiritual, emotional and social support. Through testimonies from widowed women and leaders of church-based women’s groups, the story shows how faith communities offer prayer, counselling and solidarity to help widows cope with grief, loneliness and social stigma.

It highlights initiatives within churches such as the Roman Catholic Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where widows participate in retreats, women’s associations and faith-based activities that promote unity, dignity and psychosocial wellbeing. The article also examines the work of widows’ associations that combine faith with practical empowerment, including counselling, agricultural projects, skills development and guidance on the use of inherited resources.

The story further places women’s empowerment within Lesotho’s legal and constitutional context, referencing court rulings and laws that protect widows’ rights to property, inheritance and leadership. By linking faith-based support with legal protection, the article shows how religious organisations and the justice system together contribute to restoring confidence, rights awareness and agency among widows.

LINK TO PUBLISHED STORY: https://www.facebook.com/61556535771528/posts/pfbid0yNEgcAr8Fmv7CyrBVmDAU7W78YnmFYusy8wRrAe7FhoycvRbGX4HgFYPVmTDHztYl/?app=fbl 

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