19 Jun 2018

Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi says the signing of SADC Gender Protocol solidifies Botswana’s commitment to the promotion of gender.

Answering a question in Parliament on June18, he said since the protocol was signed recently, no progress has been made in relation to policy formulation for its domestication.

As a result, Mr Molefhi said it had been difficult to commit to timeliness and targets.

He said while electoral reforms were yet to be considered, the matter should first be dully considered by various political parties by institutionalising gender equality values in their own constitutions, policies and procedures.

Gender protocol aims to provide for the empowerment of women, to eliminate discrimination  by encouraging and harmonising the development and implementation of gender responsive legislation, policies, programmes and projects.

Botswana government acceded to the SADC Gender and Development Protocol in May 2017.

Minister Molefhi was resonding to  Selebi Phikwe MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, who wanted to know if there was any strategy in place  to bring about gender equality in political representation in councils and Parliament, given the current  under representation of women in politics.ENDS