18 Nov 2021

Botswana today joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Men’s Day in the Kgatleng District village of Mmathubudukwane.

Commemorated annually, the event is used to raise awareness on the effects of gender-based violence (GBV), role of men in promoting gender equality as well as other matters affecting men and boys.

Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Anna Mokgethi is scheduled to officiate at the event themed; Promoting Healthy Relations Between Men and Women in the midst of COVID-19 and beyond.

A ministry news release states that in Botswana, men and boys face interwoven challenges ranging from health, harmful masculine norms and GBV as well as the negative portrayal of men, boys and fathers.

It says Kgatleng has been chosen as a venue for the event because it  has  one of the highest prevalence of GBV in the country at 38 per cent lifetime experience of intimate partner violence by women and perpetrated by men.

The district also played an integral part as a pilot site for the GBV Referral System commissioned in 2015 by the Department of Gender Affairs to address issues surrounding access to comprehensive, quality services for GBV survivors, enhance case reporting and strengthen stakeholder collaboration.

The release says as a build-up to the event, the district has been hosting a series of dialogues with different categories of community members including boys,  traditional leaders, doctors and regiments,  religious organisations and other civic leaders promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity.

Topics discussed include cultural norms that reinforce gender inequality, men’s health (including male cancers), shorter life expectancy, the health impact of COVID-19 as well as harmful masculinity and violence.

International Men’s Day primarily celebrates the positive value that men bring to their communities, families and the world and also highlights men as positive role models.

Its objectives include focusing on men’s and boys’ mental and physical health, enhancing gender relations, promoting gender equality and wellbeing, discrimination against men and promoting positive men role models. Ends