23 Mar 2022

Regional guideline tools on gender based violence GBV standard operation procedures (SOPs) have harmonised approaches from across the region and also anchored on global best practice. 

Speaking at the official opening of a GBV workshop organised by the SADC secretariat in Palapye Tuesday March 22, an official from SADC Secretariat, Ms Kealeboga Moruti urged the Botswana Police Service, to reference and domesticate such tools.

She commended BPS for prioritising the workshop, adding that it defined absolute commitment to the security and safety of the people of Botswana.

Ms Moruti who is a senior officer-Public Security at SADC highlighted that in 2018, SADC conducted a comprehensive study aimed at compiling information on the prevalence and forms of GBV in the region.

She added the study documented GBV prevention and response measures as well as identifying the gaps and challenges among SADC member states.

For her part, Botswana Police Service, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Botswana Police Service, Dr Baboloki Tumediso said in the SADC region, Botswana included, a high number of GBV cases were  recorded during COVID-19, and as a result the country intensified its national response against GBV and Child Abuse.

She said BPS was prioritising and tackling GBV issues with stakeholder support. She highlighted the introduction of a toll free number and the establishment of Gender and Child Protection Branch as some of noteworthy measures in addressing GBV issues.

Dr Tumediso who is also BPS director for forensic science services, alluded that the workshop would provide a platform for standardising and enhancing the response mechanism to GBV and child abuse issues.

The workshop was meant to capacitate members of the BPS on effective prevention and response on issues of GBV.

Dr Tumediso said United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No.5 advocated for the elimination of all forms of GBV by 2030, therefore to achieve this goal, a collaborative, integrated and coordinated approach was necessary. 

Dr Baboloki Tumediso Senior Assistant Commission of BPS who also Director of Gender and Child Protection unit, Ms Goitseone Ngono applauded the SADC Secretariat for organising the workshop as GBV was a battle that needed to be fought looking at the negative effects it had on children, women and men in the society.

Ms  Ngono urged the participants to exercise professionalism to ensure the dispensation of justice for all GBV related cases. Ends