30 Aug 2020

Gender activist, Ms Neo Thema, says in the wake of increasing gender based violence (GBV) cases, the nation needs to be educated on the 2008 Domestic Violence Act.

In an interview, Ms Thema said GBV cases had spiked in domestic settings, emphasising that breaking the silence would be a first step towards eliminating culture of domestic violence.

“We have seen children being victimised in their homes, where they should be at peace,” she said, adding that when a child was violated, their future was compromised.

“This culture and social norms need to be condemned through messaging boldly in a language that is understood by all,” Ms Thema reiterated.

She said empowering the public through legal education and simplified literature would similarly strengthen and prevent violence within domestic settings and called upon government to accelerate implementation of the National Gender Policy.

Ms Thema also implored civil society, gender activists, village development committees, Botswana Police Service and customary leadership to be at the forefront in educating the public on GBV.

In addition, she encouraged victims of GBV not to withdraw cases that were before law enforcement authorities.

Commenting on the decision to establish an inter-ministerial committee on GBV, she said the committee should prioritise men involvement in the fight against GBV in a realistic and strategic manner.

She added that men from all socio economic backgrounds should be hands on in eliminating GBV, by sending messages that tolerating all forms of violence was criminal and unacceptable.

For her part, senior lecturer at the University of Botswana and former chairperson of Gender Policy Programme Committee, Dr Maude Dikobe, said some cultural  norms contributed to the culture of violence against women and girls, saying there was need to disrupt patriarchy.

Dr Dikobe noted that violence was perpetuated by internalising cultural believes whereby victims, especially women, were socialised to think that it was acceptable for husbands to abuse them.

She also highlighted that the tendency to ignore violence in homes, dismissing it as a private matter; lack of research, monitoring and evaluation as well as lack of implementation of existing laws aimed at protecting women and girls, also perpetuated GBV.

Moreover, she said the sentences were lenient and  not deterrent to would be and repeat perpetrators.

 “The waiting period for the cases to be heard is way too long, and the survivors continue to be intimidated by the perpetrators in the streets.  That is why now we are considered the second rape haven globally,” she added.

Dr Dikobe indicated that though efforts had been made to train some law enforcement officers on how to handle GBV cases, a lot still needed to be done, because some of them still blamed victims or survivors.                                                                                                                                      

She emphasised the need to address inequalities between men and women in distribution of power, adding that a lot should be done, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Dikobe also called for establishment of a gender commission, which would work closely with the legal system, other than Parliament.

Meanwhile, Ntlo ya Dikgosi chairperson, Kgosi Puso said the incidences of GBV could be reduced if dikgosi were given the responsibility to hone society.

He challenged government to empower the Bogosi institution with the necessary resources to instill values that could make communities responsible citizens.

Kgosi Puso reiterated that way back, bogosi was solely responsible for mentoring communities, lamenting that this was no longer the case, hence the increase in GBV cases.

“Kgosi has a powerful voice, which the community heeds to. Kgosi is more like a parent, s/he can punish, rehabilitate and counsel wrong doers,” he added.

Furthermore, Kgosi Puso advised the nation to do away with some cultural practices, which perpetuated GBV.

He also encouraged couples to communicate whenever they had misunderstandings and to seek counselling to avoid unnecessary altercations that could lead to violence. Ends