09 Feb 2022

Government has acknowledged that funds allocated to Gender Based Violence (GBV) support shelters are not adequate considering the increasing incidences of GBV, which are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi noted that shelters were in need of increased support therefore her ministry would continue to consider ways and means through which funds could be sourced.

Ms Mokgethi said government had been providing annual financial support through her ministry to Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention and Support Centre (BGBVPSC) previously known as Kagisano Society Women’s Shelter in Gaborone and Women Against Rape (WAR) in Maun.

BGBVPSC runs four shelters in Gaborone and two in Francistown, while WAR operates one shelter in Maun.
“For the past three financial years, my ministry disbursed a total P5 053 869.20 to support the two centres,”Minister Mokgethi said.

Ms Mokgethi said in 2018/19, the Support Centre received P500 000, WAR got P250 000. In 2019/2020 the centre got P514 889.20 while WAR was supported with P250 000.
Additionally, Ms Mokgethi said in 2020/2021 the two centres received increased amounts of P3 048 980 and P490 000 respectively.

Noting that the country needed more places of safety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Mokgethi said her ministry reviewed the support to shelters and increased it six times for BGBVPSC while it was doubled for WAR. She said the increased financial support allowed shelters to open up more facilities to help GBV survivors.

She added that it was important to highlight that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, BGBVPSC and WAR were allocated a total of P500 000 and P250 000 per annum respectively.
Ms Mokgethi said her ministry recently concluded a feasibility study on establishment and strengthening of safe havens. “The findings and recommendations of the study are still being considered to inform government on the appropriate mode to adapt,” she said.

Minister Mokgethi was of the view that the study would to a large extent facilitate government in providing improved GBV services to survivors including, housing victims. She expressed her profound appreciation to the civil society including BGBVPSC and WAR for the sacrifice and commitment they had made during the COVID-19 pandemic providing services online.

“Their contribution to fighting COVID-19 and its consequences is immeasurable and the house must equally commend them,” said Ms Mokgethi. She also noted that GBV was not a government challenge alone. “The GBC response requires concerted efforts by all players including Members of Parliament,” she added.

Therefore, Ms Mokgethi urged MPs to support government through mobilisation of resources to address GBV in their constituencies. Maun West MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando had asked the minister to state the amount disbursed by her ministry in the last three financial years to assist organisations that provided safe homes for victims of GBV.

Mr Saleshando also wanted to know the amount availed to each organisation assisted and if the amount was adequate compared to the rising numbers of GBV cases and if the amounts had been found to be inadequate how the ministry had planned to address the short fall. ENDS