10 Jun 2014

About 67 per cent of women in Botswana have been abused by men while 44 per cent of men have admitted to having abused women in their lifetime.

The figures were revealed by the deputy director of gender affairs, Ms Thapelo Phuthego during a women’s talk show organised by a women’s advocacy group, Mosadi Pilara in Ramotswa on June 7.

Ms Phuthego said most of the people who experienced gender-based violence were abused by people they were related to such as their partners. She noted that many Batswana women had little access to economic resources, which led them to rely on men.

Nevertheless, she said government was committed to bridging the socio-economic gap that brought about gender disparities.

She added that her department was fighting for the review of laws that contributed to gender disparities. Making a presentation on issues and solutions to gender-based violence, outgoing Ramotswa police station commander, Senior Superintendent Sarah Gabathuse said most cases reported to the police point to men as perpetrators.

Senior Superintendent Gabathuse said in most cases young women would go out at night to indulge in alcoholic beverages at the expense of their male partners.

She said conflict arose when men demanded sexual favours in return or when a woman found herself sleeping next to a person whom they were not involved with. “Most of these cases are reported to the police early in the morning,” she said, adding that few men reported cases of gender-based violence in the Ramotswa policing area.

Another presenter, Ms Semakaleng Moamogwe, a social worker with the South East District Council, said although young women report more cases, gender-based violence knew no boundaries as it affected the poor and rich as well as all tribes.

She said one out of five women in the world has been abused. She noted that abuse could be emotional, physical or psychological. Ms Pauline Monare, the director of the Economic Diversification Drive, urged young women to take advantage of government development initiatives. She said young women had the potential to excel in businesses just like their male counterparts. ENDS