10 Nov 2019

Department of Gender Affairs and other stakeholders have planned some activities across the Chobe District to sensitise the community about Gender-Based Violence (GBV) related issues.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting for this year’s commemoration of 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence recently, senior gender officer, Ms Onneile Monna said the 16 days start from November 25 to December 10 and have been themed: Orange the world: Generation Equality stand against rape.

Ms Monna said while the national commemoration would be in Francistown, Chobe had some planned activities to mark the 16 days as rape cases were on the increase in the area.

She said on November 14 and 15 a random house to house campaign on GBV would be conducted in about 96 households in Kgaphamadi while on November 21 a GBV conversation would be held at Satau Village through which the community would be engaged on issues of GBV.

Ms Monna said a GBV activation would be conducted at Hunters Mall where people would also get purple ribbons. She further said as part of the activities on November 27, a GBV meeting with the guidance and counselling teachers in Kasane schools had been scheduled. She said this was a follow up to the previous meeting by the First Lady Neo Masisi where the students had indicated some forms of abuse they got from their teachers.

Still, at the preparatory meeting, it was agreed that the closing of the 16 Days of activism Against GBV will be done during the district’s AIDS Day to be held in Mabele village on December 10.

Earlier Ms Monna had explained that rape was the most pervasive form of sexual violence that eroded dignity and self-worth while it also had a negative effect on the mental, emotional and physical being of the survivor.

She said orange was chosen for this year’s theme as it symbolised bright future, free from violence and it served as a means of demonstrating solidarity in eliminating all forms of violence. Ends