17 Sep 2015

The director of technical services in the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Mr Densil Bucanaan, says government continues to fight against violence.

When addressing participants at the men and women sector workshop in Gaborone, Mr  Bucanaan said the country was faced with psycho-social problems such as teenage pregnancy, delinquency, substance and drug abuse, which contributed to gender based violence (GBV) as well as sexual transmitted disease (STIs).

“In order for our country to achieve prosperity and development, all must be at the forefront of the fight against GBV and the spread of STIs including HIV/AIDS,” he said.

He highlighted that the workshop included the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women which was goal three of the millennium development goals, as well as SADC goal of halving gender violence by 2015. 

He stated that the GBV indicator study of 2012 had shown that 67 per cent of women interviewed had experience and some form of GBV at one point in their life. However, Mr Bucanaan added that government was committed to spearheading issues of gender and development.

“The spirit of being caring and compassionate is one of the fundamental blocks that Botswana envisioned, said Mr Bucanaan. 

He added that government structure like police in collaboration with partners such as gender links; Emang Basadi and male involvement continue to work diligently to ensure safety among Batswana.

Mr Bucanaan noted that the overall goal of the workshop was to sensitize men and women, on behavior modification and provide interpersonal skills to necessitate behavior change.

Meanwhile the human resource and administration manager Mr William Molemogi said women and men should be brought into the world of equal opportunities. 

He said the workshop call all to participate in religious and moral believe in empowering girls and boys to live equal. He said everyone deserves the safe and security needed, so GBV should  be discouraged at all forms.  Ends