04 Dec 2023

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Women, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja, called upon the National Assembly to play a pivotal role in advocating for the allocation of resources and financing to support a multifaceted approach in combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV). 

Delivering a statement in Parliament on Friday, Ms Makwinja’s  statement comes in light of the ongoing global campaign of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, which focuses on the theme: Unite! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls.

In her address, Ms Makwinja emphasised the need to reflect on the pervasive and deeply rooted problem of violence against women and girls and urged government to bridge funding gaps to address the issue effectively.

One of the key areas she highlighted was the urgent need for adequate facilities across the country to support victims of GBV, ensuring privacy and swift access to justice.

Ms Makwinja stressed the importance of dedicated funding to establish more protection shelters, providing abused women with a safe haven.
 

Moreover, Ms Makwinja called for increased financing towards research initiatives aimed at identifying effective preventive methods and tailoring interventions to the specific needs of the community.

She said the significance of data-driven approaches was to yield tangible results and contribute to the global goal of eliminating violence against women and girls.

Ms Makwinja also commended the United Nations Population Fund for their collaboration with government, civil society organisations, and non-state partners in strengthening GBV research. The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus on Women also highlighted the importance of involving men and boys in the prevention of GBV and the assessment of sexual reproductive health services.

Despite acknowledging the limited funding for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) advocating for anti-GBV programmes, Ms Makwinja appealed for their empowerment through increased funding and support, recognizing their vital role as partners in addressing this challenge.

She applauded  the First Lady,  Neo Masisi, for tirelessly advocating for children’s rights, both for the young and the old.

However, she also emphasized the toll GBV has taken on women and girls, citing alarming statistics that show over 67 per cent of women in Botswana have experienced abuse, which is more than double the global average.

Additionally, Botswana ranks at number one in Africa and the world for reported rape incidents, which is a matter of grave concern.

The Chairperson welcomed the establishment of 25 GBV courts across the country, aimed at delivering justice to victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

“These specialised courts will provide women with a safer environment to report such cases and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable,” said Ms Makwinja.

Ms Makwinja also acknowledged the recent developments regarding bail and the amendment of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, saying  that many crimes against women have been committed by individuals on bail or repeat offenders.

Ms Makwinja reiterated that the theme for the global campaign served as a call to action for all stakeholders to unite in implementing comprehensive strategies that not only respond to incidents but proactively prevent them, addressing the root causes of these social ills.

She emphasised that gender-based violence undermined the health, dignity, security, and autonomy of victims, resulting in devastating consequences that could have long-lasting repercussions and even lead to death.
 

Ms Makwinja called for a stronger focus on strengthening single-headed households and urged men to love and respect women and girls, adding  that without women, society could not progress.
 

The Chairperson appealed to parents to empower both their girl and boy children from a young age, ensuring conflict resolution that never involves violence.  
 

She stressed the importance of education, awareness campaigns, and community engagement to challenge and change deeply ingrained attitudes and behaviors contributing to GBV. 

Ms Makwinja also acknowledged that there were cases of women and girls who abused their male counterparts, underscoring the need for all women to stand together and condemn abuse across the board. Ends