WASBO sexual harassment policies commendable
19 Jan 2025
Botswana’s national policy on gender and development provides a framework to include a gender perspective in all activities of government and civil society in order to promote equal participation of men and women in development.
Speaking at the Women and Sports Botswana (WASBO) symposium in Gaborone on Saturday, Minister of Sports and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng said government would thus be deliberate in ensuring equitable access to sport for women and girls regardless of their background and orientation stating that government would develop policies and interventions that continued to allow for Botswana women and girls to participate in sports in numbers as their male counterparts.
He said accessibility remained priority as it was the foundation that allowed participation in sports.
Minister Kelebeng said gender mainstreaming in sport was a priority area for his ministry, hence efforts were ongoing to achieve it.
The minister also said WASBO rolling out the Sexual Harassment Policy in 2020 was commendable as gender equality and women empowerment were universally recognised as fundamental human rights.
He further said commitment to equality in sport was a journey they had to undertake together as it required dedication, collaboration and unwavering belief in the potential and power of women.
“Let us therefore proceed with a steadfast resolve to dismantle stereotypes, unlock opportunities and inspire future generations to re-imagine what leadership in sports can be,” he said.
He said the symposium offered a unique platform to learn from experts and hear inspiring success stories, as well as to forge new innovative and inclusive paradigms of leadership that would allow for all to serve better.
He also said Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 5 specifically had a target to end all forms of discrimination and eliminate violence against girls and women including trafficking and other sorts of exploitation by 2030.
He said to achieve the targets, the sport sector had to be aware of the current status on the basis of gender-based violence (GBV). Therefore, he challenged them to review their strategies, programmes and initiatives to have components that raised awareness and educated Batswana on issues of GBV.
He also called on sport leaders at all levels to condemn all forms of GBV, which he said had become widespread. Kelebeng urged all stakeholders to therefore act immediately to arrest the undesirable and painful situation.
For her part, WASBO president, Keenese Katisenge-Tizhani said the Sport Pitso dubbed ‘Women Sport Symposium’ was a platform hosted every two years that allowed them to make commitment through resolutions and also devise how they would enhance action.
Katisenge-Tizhani said the theme of the Pitso; Innovative and Inclusive Leadership Models for the Participation of Women and Girls in Sport in Botswana spoke volumes about their dedication to shaping a future where women and girls occupied prominent spaces in sports across Botswana.
She said the theme was a deliberate call to action as the focus on innovative and inclusive leadership demanded that they re-think traditional models and included diverse voices in their deliberations.
In articulating their achievements, Katisenge-Tizhani said they had offered scholarship opportunities for women with disabilities in sports through their partnership with Integrated Dreams, a Portugal-based non-profit association advocating for the inclusion of disabled people in sports.
She said they had also established sponsorships with Association of International Sports for All (TAFISA) a non-profit making organisation, and forged strategic partnerships with other organisations including the Okavango Diamond Company, Sprint Couriers and International Working Group, among others.
She said they had rolled out the sexual harassment policy and hosted safeguarding workshops, and had further managed to introduce, in 2020, the WASBO special award through, which they recognised women competitors of the 2024 Olympics.
She also said they had managed to revive the dormant eight WASBO regions and hosted regional Annual General Meetings. Katisenge-Tizhani said they had also organised capacity building workshops for sport organisations and facilitated gender reporting workshops for media practitioners. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Gontle Merafhe
Location : Gaborone
Event : Workshop
Date : 19 Jan 2025