13 Jun 2021

Minister For Presidential Affairs, Governance And Public Administration, Mr Kabo Morwaeng has commended organisers and sponsors of the inaugural Anti GBV (Gender-Based Violence) Activism awards for their commitment to eradicating the vice in Botswana.

Officiating at the awards ceremony in Gaborone on Friday, Mr Morwaeng said the goal of the awards, which was to bring GBV to an end, was a shared one between government and the organisers.

He said GBV was among the worst offences that continued to exist in the society and there was no denying that many people in the community, particularly women and children, lived in terrifying situations and fear of their safety on a daily basis.

“As such, government has committed to fighting GBV and mobilise the community to join in this war,” he said.

Mr Morwaeng further said in 2020, the National Assembly passed a motion that called for the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee against GBV.

This, he explained, was a response to the escalating cases of abuse that coincided with the lockdowns meant to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“Government moved swiftly and the committee was set up before the end of 2020. It comprises community leaders, faith-based and civic leaders, among others. Through it, we hope to increase advocacy against gender-based violence,” he stated.

Likewise, Minister Morwaeng said the establishment of the inter-ministerial committee against GBV was one among many of the steps that government had taken to address the scourge. 

He further stated that government was aware that it would take much more to bring GBV to an end.

Accordingly, Mr Morwaeng reminded the gathering and the nation that the establishment of a Sexual Offenders Registry was also in the pipeline.

He said for purposes of the safety of women and children in the community, it was high time government brought convicted offenders to the fore so that everybody could recognise the perpetrators of such barbaric acts.

Moreover, Mr Morwaeng welcomed partnerships and joint efforts such as those of Men and Boys for Gender Equality and UNDP in the fight against GBV.

“Today’s awards should serve as an encouragement and reminder to the entire nation that we all have a role to play in this war that we must win,” he commented.

Sharing the status of GBV in Botswana and the response of government, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Anna Mokgethi said according to statistics from the Botswana National Relationship study conducted by her ministry in 2018, 37 per cent of women and 21 per cent of men had experienced some form of GBV in their lifetime.

She highlighted that 30 per cent of men and 12 per cent of women reported perpetrating violence.

The study further revealed that 36 per cent of women and 18 per cent of men reported intimate partner violence.

Ms Mokgethi said, on the other hand, the 2019 World Population Review placed Botswana in second place as the country with the highest number of reported rape cases in the world.

“These statistics are an indication that we have a pandemic within another being COVID-19,” said.

Ms Mokgethi highlighted with concern that the statistics of GBV had continued to soar since March 2020 due to restricted movements.

“Places such as schools and the workplace have now become a haven for some people and limited movements left them exposed and vulnerable to their perpetrators,” she commented.

She said this showed that most homes were no longer regarded as safe places.

As such, the minister revealed that her ministry would have to identify the underlying causes of GBV and address them as a matter of urgency before GBV becomes normalised.

Ms Mokgethi said government had taken various initiatives such as Botswana Police Service launch of a toll-free number specifically dedicated to the reporting of GBV cases, gender and child-friendly unit and standard operating procedures for handling GBV cases, amongst other initiatives nationwide.

The minister called on all sectors to support her ministry in capacity-building of communities to eradicate the GBV scourge.

Those awarded included Ms Ntebogang Maatla for Best Individual Effort, Dzo Dusa Social club for Best Social Club and Kgosi Dira Galeragwe for Best Traditional Leadership.

 

Gaborone City Council mayor, Mr Father Maphongo scooped the Best Local Authority Leadership award while Lucara Botswana Mine won under the Best Corporate Company and Letlhakane Police Station won the Best Government Department award.ENDS