05 Mar 2020

Five European Union (EU) funded projects were launched in Gaborone on March 4.

 The P10 million grant were shared among Gender Links which got P1.7m, Humana People to People P1.8m, Stepping Stones International  another P1.8m, BOCONGO P2.4m while Lobatse Town Council also received P2.4m.

 Speaking at the launch, EU ambassador to Botswana Mr Jan Sadek congratulated the five for their achievement and for presenting excellent proposals.

  He indicated that the grant followed an invitation by the EU Delegation to Botswana and SADC to civil society organisations in February last year to submit proposals along thematic lines.

 Mr Sadek commended the beneficiaries for the significant role they were playing in contributing to Botswana’s development objectives.

 He said their  dedication was commendable and heart-warming.

 The EU ambassador therefore encouraged them to continue working for the development of the country, especially the less privileged.

  The EU, he said, applauded the fundamental contribution made by civil society organisations to the promotion of human rights, good governance, democracy and the rule of law.

 He said the organisations were also key partners for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Mr Sadek explained that the union was the world’s largest donor to civil society, adding grants launched were funded through two separate EU instruments.

The largest of the two instruments promoted democracy and human rights worldwide, including support to civil society and also facilitated direct cooperation with isolated or marginalised civil society actors, including allocation of direct grants to those operating in particularly difficult contexts.

Further, he said the EU stood for a strong and pluralistic civil society.

The organisation would continue to promote a safe and enabling environment in which civil society would operated free from hindrance and insecurity, he said.

Mr Sadek said EU would continue to meet with human rights defenders, monitor their trials, visit them in detention as well as raise their cases with government.

Ambassador Sadek said the EU also supported local authorities as actors for good governance and development processes.

The main objective was to strengthen civil society organisations and local authorities in EU partner countries as a precondition for a more equitable, open and democratic society, he said.

He said the EU also supported key international actors such as the UN Human Rights Council and implementation of the agreed recommendations in the Universal Periodic Review, the UN special rapporteurs on human rights defenders, freedom of association, and freedom of expression.

In Botswana, he said, work with civil society was a continuation of projects that benefited civil society organisations for more than two decades.

He said since 2013, approximately P20 million had been granted to 13 projects implemented by nine such organisations.

Actions supported included civic education, fight against gender based violence,  support to the Lesbians Gays Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex  (LGBTI)community, disability groups, minorities and indigenous people’s rights and child protection.

Ambassador Sadek indicated that there were many important areas which were not covered by the current call for proposals or where the response had been weak.

“But those which would require attention in the future include death penalty, women’s participation in politics, support to the LGBTI community, minority rights, refugees or migrants rights, and media freedom and development for which I urge other organisations to make proposals on them,” he said.

He assured attendants that EU would continue to support civil society. ENDS