18 Dec 2023

Government of Botswana has always been committed to addressing gender-based violence(GBV).

Responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Mahalapye East, Mr Yandani Boko, Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Mr Tumiso Rakgare said the commitment had been authenticated by three studies undertaken in 2012, 2018 and 2019 related to addressing the issue including violence against children.

He said articles on GBV had also been provided for in statutes among them the National Policy on Gender and Development and the National Strategy Towards Ending GBV.

“Several administrative reforms have been undertaken such as the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on GBV and specialised GBV courts,” he said.

Mr Boko had asked the minister why Botswana as a member of the African Union was the only country yet to ratify the protocol on the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and on the Rights of Women in Africa (known as the Maputo Protocol) which came into force on November 25, 2005. 

The MP said since the Maputo Protocol had long been implemented by other African countries, Botswana ought to have prioritised its ratification.

He said with the instrument in place and fully enforced, it could assist the country to come up with meaningful tools to address the rising challenge of GBV. Mr Boko also asked Minister Rakgare to share with the House achievements of the Inter-Ministerial Committee towards fighting GBV.

On that note, Mr Rakgare agreed that indeed the protocol was a blueprint for African Women’s Human Rights. He said the instrument displayed concrete commitments by the African Continent in promoting the enjoyment of human rights by its people.

Mr Rakgare said it was important to indicate that Botswana acceded to the Maputo Protocol and deposited its instrument to the African Union Commission on October 23, by so doing affirming commitment to the implementation of the protocol’s provisions. Selebi Phikwe West MP, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse also asked the minister if government had plans to domesticate, implement and evaluate the Maputo Protocol. 

Mr Keorapetse said there were instances where countries would only ratify such protocols for the sake of compliance, but would never be domesticated nor implemented to address the problem at hand.

He said GBV was a serious concern, adding that statistics recorded by September revealed 1 331 cases of defilement, 1 718 rape cases and 215 murder cases.

Mr Keorapetse added that most of the murder cases were femicides, adding that women and the girl child were mostly victims of GBV.

In response, Mr Rakgare said through the Inter Ministerial Committee, government implemented laws and formed committees aimed at addressing all forms of GBV. Even though government was yet to ratify the protocol, Mr Rakgare was convinced that government was party to other protocols that were equally determined to fight for the rights of women and all people.

He said government was already doing what was required by the Maputo Protocol since its enforcement some years back.

Mr Rakgare added that it was important to observe that violent behaviour and any other criminal act perpetuating GBV could not be addressed by stringent legislation only, adding that mindset change was vital towards establishing an orderly environment. ENDS