04 May 2014

Gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights yet remains one of the least prosecuted crimes.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Kelebogile Kgabi said this at the launch of gender-based violence TV drama PeloKgale and the Kagisano Society Women Shelter (KSWS) new logo in Gaborone recently.

Ms Kgabi said gender-based violence threatened efforts tailored towards the development of the country. She added that it also affected the government, private sector, civil society and the nation at large. “We have to collectively do much more than we have done to prevent and respond to the cries for justice for all who have suffered gender-based violence,” she said.

She noted that KSWS had taken the right step in combating gender-based violence, adding that all should join hands in advancing the course. “In this age and time our actions should show that ending GBV is among the top priorities for the development of this country,” she said.

Ms Kgabi said statistics showed that 44 per cent of men admitted to have perpetuated violence against women. She said 29 per cent of women lived in fear of their partners while only one per cent of the cases were taken to the police.

If violence against women was not addressed, she said the consequences not only affected the current generation, but hindered efforts geared towards ensuring peace and security and poverty eradication.

“Violence towards women and girls is an extreme manifestation of gender inequality and systematic gender-based discrimination,” she said. The permanent secretary said for gender-based violence to be prevented there was a need to address the root cause, adding that evidence showed that where the gender gap was greater in status of women’s health, participation in the economy, education levels and representation in politics, women were likely to be subjected to violence.

She said there was a need to take a long term and comprehensive approach that recognised and protected women and children’s human rights.

For his part, the Ambassador of Japan to Botswana, Mr Hiroyasu Kobayashi said the 67 per cent statistics of gender-based violence in Botswana was shocking.

Mr Kobayashi said it was imperative to create a society where everyone could live up to their full potential without fear. ENDS