11 Sep 2016

The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu, says government is aware that gender inequality is a major obstacle to people’s socio-economic and political development.

Speaking at launch of the National Gender Commission recently Mr Batshu said government had taken various measures to ensure equality of all citizens, in particular, gender equality and gender equity.

He said Botswana had made significant progress over the years in its quest for achieving gender equality, noting that, to date, the country led the SADC region with 43 per cent of women in government’s executive positions.

“In addition, Batswana women have ascended to, amongst others, the National Assembly including the Speaker, Cabinet, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, Governor of the Bank of Botswana, Attorney General and other portfolios that were initially men’s domain,” said Mr Batshu.

Furthermore, the minister noted that the country in 2010, had reached gender parity in education, five years before the Millennium Development Goals deadline, something he said was a remarkable progress.

He also said in order to align with the Post 2015 Development Agenda, Botswana adopted the National Policy on Gender and Development, recognising the discourse on gender equality which was a shift of focus from women in development to gender and development. The National Gender Commission was recently launched with the objective to facilitate effective implementation of the National Policy on Gender and Development. The Commission is multi-spectral in nature and commissioners were drawn from sectors of government, parastatals institutions, the private sector and civil society organisations.

Appointed by the minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu, the 16 member commission is mandated to provide strategic policy direction, leadership, and governance of the national gender response.

The commissioners are also to advise government on gender issues, in particular policy development and service delivery, as well as liaise with gender affairs department to provide guidance and support within government and externally, on the promotion of gender equality and justice.

They are also going to liaise with the gender affairs department and other stakeholders in parastatal organisations, private sector and civil society organisations to develop appropriate programmes, strategies and mechanisms for enhancing gender equity.

The policy adopts gender mainstreaming as a key strategy for achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment. ENDS