28 Nov 2022

The South East Sub-district gender committee has, on Friday, launched the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Violence on Women and Children campaign.

Theme: Unite To End Gender Based Violence Now, the activation started with a march from Ramotswa’s Lynn’s Funeral Parlour to the main kgotla.

Speaking at the launch, assistant district commissioner, Ms Kushata Tsokedi, said the objectives of the campaign was to encourage Batswana to take part in fighting gender-based violence (GBV), especially against women and girls.

Ms Tsokedi said the campaign also sought to educate both men and women about issues of GBV and also ensure that men and boys took part in the fight against the vice.

“The main aim is to educate the public in understanding that the fight against GBV advocates for both men and women.

The public needs to be aware that the fight against violence is not only government’s responsibility, but every individual’s responsibility to help fight this ill,” she said.

She explained that the gender committee was responsible for mobilising and engaging existing stakeholders and building a relationship to collaborate with government in fighting against gender-based violence.

South East Sub-district council chairperson, Councillor Semakaleng Sebogodi said according to the World Population Review - Rape statistics, Botswana was ranked as the country with the highest rape incidents.

“In 2018 statistics showed that 37 per cent of women are experiencing  violence and 27 per cent of men are victims of violence, which is evident that GBV in our country is a rising illness that needs all of us to stand against,” Cllr Sebogodi said.

She added that GBV violated one’s rights and was a diminishing act to one’s dignity as well as a contributing factor to gender inequality.

For her part, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko of Balete emphasised the need to mobilise existing stakeholders in lending a hand to fight GBV.

Kgosi Mosadi indicated that not only women were victims of violence, but men could also be victims.

She, therefore, encouraged those who found themselves in abusive incidents to speak out.

She also encouraged social groups to discuss and educate members about issues of GBV during their meetings.

She added that the 16 days activism campaign, which began on Friday, would end on December 10.

“However, that does not mean after the campaign we stop our fight, we continue fighting,” she said.

Again, she said there was need for the gender committee to collaborate with existing stakeholders, such social groups as Letlhapisa Le Lengwe Substance Abuse Support Group and clubs such as Boys and Girls Scout to see how they could  work together in their fight against GBV. Ramotswa Police Station commander, Superintendent Keoagile Tau said the South East Sub-district was among the districts with high numbers of GBV, having recorded 132 and 96 cases in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

The cases, Supt Tau said, included rape, defilement, indecent assault, assault, murder, attempted murder and suicide.

He, therefore, urged public members to educate one another and also report cases of GBV, saying, ‘the public should advocate against GBV even before they become victims’.

Meanwhile, the sub-district would on Wednesday, commemorate 16 Days of Activism Against Violence on Women and Children at Otse Main Kgotla. ENDS