29 May 2017

Gender progressive organisations have called for dialogue to discuss gender based violence with focus on public education.

At a press conference to address an incident where a young women was stripped naked at the Gaborone Bus Rank recently, Ms Itumeleng Komanyane of Sonke Gender Justice and Men Engage urged gender progressive associations to see how they could engage dikgosi at the kgotla to address instances where women were victimised and not allowed in a kgotla based on certain dress codes.

“We are calling on men who continue to be key decision makers in all things women to take a stand and be upfront when it comes to how we hold men accountable on issues of gender based violence,” she said.

She noted that such incidences were beyond the dress code.

“It goes beyond who is young and who is old. I think this is perhaps the beginning of a real introspection as Batswana in terms of how do we honestly interrogate gender,” she said.

Men and Boys for Gender Equality (MBGE), who were also part of the team that organised the press conference, said they were saddened by the incident which they termed a vicious act of sexual harassment in a public space by men and women who witnessed it and turned a blind eye.

In a statement, MGBE representative, Mr Omphemetse Onneile said the young women was stripped naked not only of the clothes she was wearing, but of her dignity and her right to exist as she choose to be.

“Aliens did not fall from Mars to perform this horrendous act, foreigners did not cross borders to hurl insults and laugh at this young women, and she was stripped naked by the very community that is responsible for her safety and well-being,” he said.

Mr Omphemetse said they were concerned that grown up men and women were the ones involved in insulting, mocking and recording the unfortunate incident without a single one of them trying to shield or protect her from the violation.

Men and Boys for Gender Equality further called on the government, the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs as well as the Ministry of Justice, Defence and Security to take action against the perpetrators to ensure every person in the video was brought to justice.

“We urge Minister Edwin Batshu and Shaw Kgathi to take it upon themselves to address this,” Mr Omphemetse said.

He also said the taxi and street vendor associations must be called to account.

He said it would help provide safe spaces for women, men and children in the public transport sector. ENDS