24 Aug 2018

The Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development engaged Dikgosi in a three day Gender Pitso where they deliberated on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and gender equality issues.

The ‘Gender Pitso’ held in Selebi Phikwe recently under the theme ‘Take a Step, End Gender Based Violence Now’ was attended by dikgosi from Central and North East District.

The core issues of concern deliberated during the meet were those of GBV,  especially against women since the problem was on the rise as evidenced by the recent murder cases recorded.

In this regard the Gender Pitso was initiated for dikgosi as cultural and tribal leaders in society to deliberate on such atrocities and come up with ideas or ways on how to mitigate such problems and ultimately bring this setback in society to a halt.

Officially opening the consensus the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Dorcus Makgato, who is also Member of Parliament for Ramokgonami–Sefhare explained that tribal leaders were critical stakeholders in addressing issues of gender equality and prevention of GBV.

She said it was befitting to engage in mainstreaming of gender issues into customary justice system.

She said the fight against GBV could not be overcome by government alone bu required concerted efforts by all.

Ms Makgato also indicated that her ministry was currently being supported by United Nations under the United Nations Joint Gender Programme to address GBV.

She noted that some progress had been made in mitigating GBV such as the adoption of the Domestic Violence Act in 2008 which recognised domestic violence as a crime punishable by law.

She said upon realising that there were some gaps on its effective implementation, the Domestic Violence Act regulations were developed in 2013.

She said that researches on GBV and gender inequality had been made to provide information on how to handle the issue.

She added that other instruments had been put in place to fight GBV.

“Dikgosi also developed their National Action Plan in 2015, which they have since been implementing. This plan forms the basis of our pitso to track progress, establish challenges and develop specific interventions that will make us reach where we intend to go”, she said.

Aditionally, Minister Makgato said the meeting created a platform for the tribal leaders to have a conversation among themselves regarding gender justice and the achievement of gender equality as well as the importance of the Dikgosi institution’s contribution.

For her part, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and also Member of Parliament for Serowe South Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi acknowledged Dikgosi for their contribution in combating GBV.

She also called on Dikgosi to put more effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS, marital rape, deliberate action of men not to take responsibility of taking care of their families.

She urged religious entities to also play a significant role to address such problems.

She said government was in the process of setting up gender committees in villages and towns around the country to mitigate and fight against GBV.

Dr Venson-Moitoi further said sign language should be included in the school curriculum to enable officers in government institutions such as the police to communicate with people who have verbal communication challenges.

She said this would allow people with such challenges to be able to convey their problems, especially those related to GBV.

Minister for Presidential Affairs Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, who is also MP for Selebi Phikwe East acknowledged the ministry for holding the pitso.

He noted that the issues deliberated in the meeting would guide government in setting up instruments that would help combat gender inequality and GBV.

He noted that GBV occurred in many households and had a broader negative impact in society and the nation as a whole.

He said the outcome of the meeting would help government in mitigating or bringing up ways to halt GBV and inequality in gender issues.

Meanwhile, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs Ms Kebonye Moepeng said the purpose of the pitso was to identify key areas of concern and related challenges of GBV, identify strategies that work towards addressing gender inequality and discrimination, identify possible solutions and intervention strategies for the different gender related challenges, contribute to the definition of gender research agenda, identify key advocacy issues and inform effective coordination and monitoring of the national gender agenda. ENDS