10 Mar 2016

Botswana Coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) gender sector coordinator, Ms Ida Mokereitane, has called for a constitutional review to ensure that 30 per cent of Botswana parliamentarians are women.

Speaking at the Botswana Civil Society Report on 59th Commission on Status of Women Feedback meeting recently, Ms Mokereitane said they would soon call for 50 per cent representation of women in parliament.

She noted that NGOs needed to establish policies to foster equal opportunities between women and men with strong gender budgeting and auditing components. She called for establishment of gender structures such as a commission and a satellite body to analyse and ensure implementation of a gender equality policy at ministry, local and regional level.

Ms Mokereitane said they would also advocate for establishment of a ministry of gender and for the enactment of unpaid care work policy and a review of the Employment Act since women did not receive their full salary during maternity period.

She further underscored the need for a strong partnership between government and civil society, which had to translate into civil society being capacitated with resources in order to carry out its mandate effectively and efficiently.

BOCONGO executive secretary, Ms Bagaisi Mabilo, said the objectives of the day were to present the Commission on Status of Women (CSW) 59th NGO report to civil society.