22 Nov 2020

In a quest to combat gender-based violence (GBV), three members of TORG International embarked on an awareness walk from Francistown to Gaborone themed #Gontse go Gekanye.

A team of three males left Francistown on November 9 and are expected to arrive in Gaborone on November 28 at Game City Mall, where President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi is expected to welcome them.

TORG International is a humanitarian, developmental and relief NGO against GBV and climate change, thriving for food security, quality education, child and social welfare.  

Its pillars are compassion, love and care. 

In an interview in Serowe recently, TORG chief operation officer, Mr Thongbotho Morupisi, who was among the walkers, said it was time for men to take the lead in the fight against GBV.

Mr Morupisi said the organisation was concerned about the increasing number of GBV cases in Botswana, with women and girls being the major victims.

He said the actual reactions to gender inequality and GBV required joint efforts by women and men, saying initiatives that excluded males in addressing GBV issues, particularly violence against women, usually had minimal impact.

Mr Morupisi said they needed financial support from companies, government and individuals to run a GBV project, which would reduce the statistics with at least 30 per cent in three years. 

He said P7.5 million was needed to run the project.

During their walk, he said they would pass through various villages on the way, where they would consult dikgosi and religious leaders concerning the issues of GBV.

He said they had already consulted dikgosi in some villages where the leaders stated that most of GBV cases were not reported. 

He decried defilement, rape and family conflict cases were not reaching their offices. 

 On their way they would also engage men and boys.

Mr Morupisi further indicated that gender-based violence was one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world, as it knows no social, economic or national boundaries.

However, TORG chief executive officer, Mr Stafford Gwedeza said GBV undermined the health, dignity, security and self-sufficiency of its victims, yet it remained masked in a culture of silence and normalisation.

Mr Gwedeza said gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls could not be achieved without involvement of men and boys. Ends