20 Mar 2018

Alliance Church in Botswana Pastor, Johanna Kerekang says International Women’s Day (IWD) is intended to intensify the  fight against gender inequality from all spheres of life.

Pastor Kerekang, who was speaking at IWD commemoration in Lobatse recently said that there was need to bridge the gender inequality  gap by  diagnosing and recognising where the gap was as well as finding solutions. 

She said closing the gender gap was not an individual effort, but a collective action  by all. 

Furthermore, Pastor Kerekang said there was progress since  government  had prioritised the promotion of gender equality as evidenced by the adoption of the National Policy on Gender and Development; as well as signing of the SADC Gender Protocol, which has been long awaited.

She noted that the signing of the SADC Gender Protocol would assist in moving forward on issues of gender. 

Although there have been efforts made in gender equality to close the gap, Pastor Kerekang said that there were still challenges in getting more women representation in the political sphere. 

She added that there was also a significant amount of gender-based violence and discrimination against women in Botswana.

She said ‘these problems need events like IWD to correct them’.

Pastor Kerekang said IWD offered an opportunity to celebrate social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women; adding that women’ visibility and awareness helped drive positive change for other women. 

Meanwhile, Lobatse Town Mayor, Ms Malebogo Kruger cautioned women that progress starts with them. 

She said women should stop looking down upon one another, but instead they should work on uplifting, empowering and supporting one another for progress. Ms Kruger said women were the nurturers, peacemakers and pillars of every nation, therefore they should be supportive of one another, especially on issues of gender. BOPA