06 Dec 2020

First Lady Neo Masisi has described gender-based violence (GBV) as the most common human right violation in the world with no social, economic or national boundaries.

“It undermines the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, yet it remains masked in a culture of silence and control,” she said. 

 She was speaking after a 10km walk in partnership with Vision 2036 Council as part of 16 days of activism against GBV in Serowe on Saturday.

 The First Lady indicated that most families in Botswana were affected by GBV which was a concern to government as it costly to the state. She called for an end to all forms of GBV- especially against women and girls, who were the most vulnerable urging stakeholders to strengthen prevention and response to at all levels of society.

Expressing concern over high incidences of GBV in  the country, Ms Masisi said it was therefore incumbent upon all community members to stand together to condemn and act against all kinds of gender influenced violence.

Ms Masisi said she was determined to uproot GBV from Batswana and to protect the vulnerable.

She called on parliamentarians, government, civil society, development partners, private sectors and all stakeholders to unite in support of effective implementation of gender commitments made by Botswana. 

 The First Lady said while the country was still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, GBV had also increased.

She appealed to the public, victims or witnesses to report GVB cases so that proper action could be taken.

“Our collective efforts must indeed make a difference in the lives of Batswana for gender equality and to ensure that no one is left behind,” she added.

Vision 2036 council chairperson Mr Neo Moroka said male violence against women had become commonplace in contemporary Botswana.

Men were acting out their dominance through acts of violence, he said.

He said Batswana have forgotten their culture where children respected the elders. “Children nowadays never greet elders as it was in the olden days. Parents must teach their young ones manners. A re boeleng ko marakanelong o bogologolong jo Batswana ba itsiweng ka jone,” he said. In her remarks, representative of the Botswana Association of Local Authorities gender commissioner, Ms Keabonye Ntsabane said 67 per cent of women in Botswana had experienced some form of GBV in their lifetime.

She also appealed to stakeholders to stand up to fight against violence impacting on the daily lives of Batswana.

GBV survivor, Ms Thandi Letang left the audience almost in tears as she narrated how she was abused by her then boyfriend.

 She said at one point the boyfriend stabbed her with a knife several times, dragged her to an abandoned house and raped her throughout the night.     

Bangwato regent Kgosi Sidiegeng Kgamane encouraged Ms Masisi to keep up the spirit of helping GBV vulnerable people and pledged bogosi’s support for her course. ends