Article 4. Fundamental human rights and freedoms
“(1) Whereas every person in Lesotho is entitled, whatever his race, colour, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status to
fundamental human rights and freedoms, that is to say, to each and all of the following –
(a) the right to life;
(n) freedom from discrimination;
(o) the right to equality before the law and the equal protection of the law.”
Article 32. Protection of children and young persons
“Lesotho shall adopt policies designed to provide that –
(a) Protection and assistance is given to all children and young persons without any
discrimination for reasons of parentage or other conditions”
16. In addition, both the Constitution and Citizenship Order, have a jus soli provision which
provides the right to nationality for anyone born on the territory of Lesotho.8 These provisions
also include a safeguard against statelessness by ensuring citizenship for those who do not
qualify for citizenship but would otherwise be stateless. These provisions guarantee the right
to a nationality for all children born in Lesotho.
Article 38. Persons born in Lesotho after the coming into operation of the Constitution
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (2) and (3), every person born in Lesotho after the
coming into operation of this Constitution shall become a citizen of Lesotho.
(2) Save as provided in subsection (3), a person shall not become a citizen of Lesotho by virtue
of this section if at the time of his birth neither of his parents is a citizen of Lesotho, and (a) one or both of his parents possesses such immunity from suit and legal process as is
accorded to the envoy of a foreign sovereign power accredited to Lesotho; or
(b) one or both of his parents is an enemy alien and the birth occurs in a place then under
occupation by the enemy.
(3) A person born in Lesotho on or after the coming into operation of this Constitution who is
disqualified to become a citizen of Lesotho by virtue of subsection (2) of this section shall
become a citizen of Lesotho if he would otherwise become stateless.
8
Chapter IV of the Constitution of Lesotho 1993 and Part II of the Lesotho Citizenship Order No. 16 of 1971. To read the
Citizenship Order, see http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4c5849ad2.pdf