11 Mar 2018

Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Mr Edwin Batshu says government has made significant progress in the implementation of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

Speaking in Parliament on March 9, Mr Batshu explained that government was committed to women empowerment though there were still gaps such as high levels of poverty among women, low representation of women in political leadership, low enrolment of girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Specially Elected MP, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo had asked the minister to update Parliament on the status of gender protocol. Mr Batshu further said government has spent P55.2 million to fund 730 projects under the Women Economic Empowerment Programme during the 2017/18 financial year.

The minister added that Botswana was leading in the SADC region with 44 per cent of women holding executive positions within the public sector. “Botswana has generally made good progress in ensuring access to education by women and girls through effective policy measures such as supporting the Education for All initiatives. Consequently, due to the firm commitment and efforts by government, the number of children, especially girls enrolled in higher and tertiary education has increased,” explained the minister. He further said that there was a policy on integration of girls into the education system after pregnancy.

The minister however said Gender Based Violence (GBV) had remained a challenge confronting women and girls in Botswana. He further said sexual violence against women was increasingly recognised as a health issue.

“The existing of unequal gender relations and the rising levels of sexual violence in the country continues to be a cause for concern. It is therefore critical that we continue to explore alternatives to address GBV,” said the minister. Ends