Film screenings expose GBV challenges in rural communities

Facilitated film screenings opened difficult conversations about gender-based violence (GBV), child marriage and sexual abuse in remote areas, according to Sesotho Media and Development (SM&D).

The organisation recently held a screening in ‘Melikane, Qacha’s Nek, where community discussions highlighted concerns around sexual offences, child marriage and the vulnerability of children in remote areas.

The recent Gender Links 2025 Indicators Follow-up Study states that women reporting lifetime experience of GBV fell from 86% in 2013 to 66.7% in 2025. That 9 out of 10 women who experience intimate-partner violence do not report it to police. Among those who do, only 15.6% see an arrest and fewer than 2% see any court outcome.

An interview with Letšabisa Malebanye, Project Manager at Sesotho Media and Development, revealed that the screenings target communities identified as having high rates of GBV, with the assistance of the Lesotho Mounted Police Service (LMPS).

“The initiative is aimed at raising awareness of the Domestic Violence Act and other laws relating to GBV, while giving communities an opportunity to discuss problems affecting them,” she said.

She added that sexual abuse remains one of the major concerns raised during the screenings as in some remote communities, children walk long distances, sometimes alone, increasing their vulnerability to perpetrators.

Another challenge is limited understanding of consent and laws protecting children from sexual abuse. Thus, communities continue to need education on children’s rights, GBV and available reporting and support mechanisms.

She said child marriage has also emerged as a significant concern, with poverty identified as one of the factors that can push families towards marrying off children as a way of reducing their financial burden.

Malebanye says the screenings are designed not merely to show films but to create a platform for communities to identify their own challenges and discuss possible solutions. “We have seen communities becoming more open and participatory in discussing GBV and other issues affecting them.”

She revealed that Sesotho Media and Development has also trained teachers and police officers through a Training of Trainers programme, equipping them with knowledge on identifying GBV, responding appropriately and referring survivors to relevant services.

That young people are being brought into the response through the Change Agents programme, which seeks to empower them to advocate against GBV, raise awareness among their peers and encourage victims to speak out and seek assistance.

She said Sesotho Media and Development also works with clinics, community structures and other service providers to strengthen referral pathways for survivors requiring healthcare, psychosocial support, police assistance or other services.

Sesotho Media and Development, with assistance from the LMPS and the Ministry of Law and Justice, including the Judiciary, Prosecution Office and Legal Aid Unit, also conducts moot court sessions based on issues raised during the screenings. The sessions are intended to help communities understand court procedures, address misconceptions about the justice system and encourage reporting of offences.

Malebanye added that beyond physical screenings, the organization uses television, radio and social media to extend conversations on GBV, sexual and reproductive health and rights, human rights and other issues to wider audiences, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

She underscored that their intervention does not end when the film screening is over. They work with communities for six consecutive months, allowing for follow-ups, monitoring and continued dialogue.

That the post-screening interventions include case management, psychosocial support, legal advice and referrals for survivors, with follow-ups conducted to ensure affected individuals are connected to appropriate services.

In a nutshell, she stressed that the overall approach is intended to ensure that concerns raised by communities are not left unresolved but instead lead to follow-up, referral, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, monitoring and continued community dialogue.

Transforming gender norms and strengthening domestic violence laws for inclusive protection across Lesotho is a project implemented by Sesotho Media and Development through the support of European Union (EU) and Brot fur die Welt.

Sesotho Media and Development is a non-profit civil society organization committed to leveraging the influential medium of film and media to initiate conversations, challenge societal attitudes and disseminate information in support of human rights.