08 Feb 2022

The inter-ministerial committee on gender based violence has proposed a number of recommendations aimed at addressing GBV in Botswana.

The recommendations, which included intensifying of public education on GBV, were agreed on Saturday at the end of a two-day training on GBV prevention and response which was held at Big Valley Game Lodge near Lobatse.

The committee also recommended that ministries should participate directly in the fight against GBV by identifying areas of intervention. 

It also called for strategic intervention based on primary functions of ministries and the strengthening of strategies to respond to GBV in the workplace.

The committee further proposed for strengthening of legislation instruments against GBV and the empowering of chiefs to act swiftly on GBV reports made to their customary courts. 

It also proposed for lobbying of the private sector, faith based organisations and other non-governmental organisations in the fight against GBV.

Six cabinet ministries attended the training. 

They were Ms Anna Mokgethi of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Mr Kabo Morwaeng of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kagiso Mmusi of Defense, Justice and Security, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Fidelis Molao of Basic Education, Dr Edwin Dikoloti of Health and Wellness as well as Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Talita Monnakgotla.

The training was intended to equip ministers with knowledge to provide appropriate guidance and facilitate effective implementation of the national response to the GBV scourge.

Officially opening the training, Ms Mokgethi said the inter-ministerial committee on GBV was established in November 2020 as a result of intense engagement and urgent call from the public for effective GBV management.

Ms Mokgethi called for radical mindset change, and stepping up of effort to address GBV within ministries and the society.

“Sadly, we have lost a significant number of our people through GBV. I note with regret that GBV has been increasing overtime, not only in numbers, but in its brutality as well,” she said.

She, however, expressed appreciation for steps that were already taken to address the challenge of GBV such as establishment of the gender and child protection branch as well as the special GBV courts and other interventions.

“It is important to emphasise that the GBV response requires a concerted effort with the civil society, development partners, media and the business community,” she added.

GBV consultant, Ms Valencia Mogegeh, said developing a community based GBV prevention strategy was necessary. 

She said it would be difficult to win fight against GBV without such strategy.

She said statistics indicated that the combined cases of rape, defilement, threats to kill and murder due to GBV were above 3 500 every year from 2015 to 2020 in Botswana.

She said other forms of GBV were assault. 

She said GBV took away self-esteem and self-confidence from its victims and negatively affected the productivity of victims at work. 

Therefore GBV had a negative impact on the socio-economic state of the society.

She further said it was necessary to have a national policy on gender and development because GBV was also fuelled by gender inequality.

Mr Morwaeng said good behaviour should be emphasised from a young age at family level to teach young children that violence was wrong. 

He further said issues of GBV should be made an important part of the syllabus in the education curriculum.

Mr Molao said coordination and mainstreaming of gender issues across government needs should be strengthened because it had been disjointed. 

He said there was a concerted and coordinated effort from all ministries regarding the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Mr Autlwetse said public education was fundamental because some sections of the society sexually abused children. 

He also said children should be taught to report abuse.  

He said this lack of reporting and withdrawing of cases had led to GBV continuing to increase.

He further said the law should be made tougher for perpetrators of rape to be given bail. BOPA