18 Mar 2020

Contemporary societal challenges require women in blue to be equal to the task, Botswana Police Service (BPS) northern divisional commander says.

   Senior assistant commissioner, Ms Cynthia Setilo, who was speaking during International Women’s day commemoration in Francistown recently, said female police officers had to be able to perform their duty effectively.

   She said policing an aggressive society meant police women must not only introspect but to repackage themselves so that they could  victorious in the fight against crime.

Senior Assistant Commissioner Setilo said unlike other females, women in the employ of BPS faced a lot of pressure from the general public to uphold a particular image at all times.

“As BPS women it is important that you pay attention to the way you speak to other women and members of the public. You have to be mindful of the way you dress to continue to command respect in the community that we serve,” she said.

Senior gender officer, Mr Nelson Molapi said International Women’s Day provided a platform to consider women’s achievements and the challenges they faced.

 Botswana, he said, was ranked two on rape related matters adding that a 2018 survey indicated that  37 per cent of women in the country had reported cases of gender based violence.

On the commemoration, he said it was intended to create awareness about the genesis of the day as well as to educate and sensitize the public on women related matters.

“It is a platform to discuss women’s past, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and achievements,” he stated.

The commemoration, organised by Northern Division Women’s Network was held under the theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women Rights” .

The theme is aligned to United Nations’ new multi-generational campaign marking the 25th anniversary of the Beijing declaration and platform for action.ends