12 Oct 2022

Girls have been advised to be vigilant on the internet to avoid being victims of cyber bullying and stalking.

The USAID country director, Dr Anne Dix said this at the International Day of the Girl Child commemoration in Maun on Tuesday.

Dr Dix said coupled with its positive impact, the internet was risky, citing that by going on to the internet one became part of a global village that could abuse them.

She said the advent of technology had enabled efficiency because people were now able to connect with the rest of the world in the comfort of their homes and people were now able to communicate with their loved ones while miles apart; through technology one could pay bills, purchase clothes and enrol in an online school.

Dr Dix, however, highlighted that cyber bullying and stalking were common phenomena in Botswana, thus implored girls to desist from posting personal information on the internet.

“Nothing you do online is private.

Once you post something about yourself on a public domain, it is no longer private and some people may take advantage of that information and use it against you, so be careful,” she warned.

The director called on techno-savvy women to bring other women on board by teaching them all the tools, rather than keeping it all to themselves.

Dr Dix said this year’s theme: Our Time is Now, Our Rights, Our Future, challenged girls and all women to stand up and empower themselves economically and socially.

“It’s hard to be a girl, but you always have to be strong, embrace yourself and break stereotypes, be yourself no matter what,” she advised.

She implored girls to take action, take the lead and contribute their talents and skills to Botswana, rather than asking what Botswana could do for them.

A girl child, Fenny Kasu from Sedie Junior Secondary School expressed gratitude to the UN for declaring October 11 the International Day of the Girl Child.

Fenny also thanked stakeholders in Ngamiland for celebrating the day with them.

She said the commemoration was an investment in the life of a girl child, adding that girls deserved to be heard.

“I believe we are a force to change the world and assert our views on how best a girl should be raised in today’s society,” she said.

Batawana regent, Kgosi Kealetile Moremi said it was imperative to build a safe space for a girl child to shine and express herself without fear or violence.

Kgosi Moremi said there was need to amplify the girl child’s voice in decision-making, hence dikgosi in Ngamiland had launched an initiative themed; Dikgosi di Xadile, meant  to protect girls.

She said the initiative was meant to address challenges faced by the girl child, among them; substance abuse, GBV, teenage pregnancy and forced marriages. ENDs