23 Apr 2026

Botswana has, in efforts to formalise its commitment to global peace standards, launched a four-day capacity-building workshop aimed at developing the first National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

The workshop’s main objective was to foster a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to the WPS agenda.

Speaking at the workshop opening ceremony in Mahalapye on Tuesday, Ms Phemelo Maiketso, Head of Gender at the SADC Secretariat, explained that the effort was designed to help Botswana build a sustainable, accountable and inclusive national architecture.

“This initiative serves to domesticate United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and the SADC regional strategy. 

By integrating these into national policies and legal frameworks, we strengthen our coordinated collaboration across security institutions, civil society, and the media,” Ms Maiketso said.

She added that while Botswana had ongoing initiatives, the workshop provided a critical opportunity to assess the current status of WPS work in the absence of a formal NAP. Stakeholders were tasked with reflecting on current peace and security initiatives, identifying persisting gaps in gender-inclusive security and determining priority actions for effective implementation.

Ms Maiketso noted that SADC continued to support its member states in the transition, highlighting that nine SADC countries, had already successfully launched and implemented their own NAPs.

Welcoming the participants, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, Ms Thapelo Phuthego, reminded participants that although UNSCR 1325 was adopted 25 years ago, it remained the global gold standard for protecting women during and after conflict.

“The resolution reaffirms the importance of women’s equal participation in peace negotiations, humanitarian responses and post-conflict reconstruction,” Ms Phuthego said. She emphasised that the resolution specifically called for increased participation to incorporate gender perspectives in all peace and security efforts, taking special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence and sexual abuse as well as ensuring women were full partners in the maintenance and promotion of peace.

The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government departments, faith-based organisations and youth academies.

The ultimate goal was to equip participants with the practical tools necessary to ensure long-term sustainability of Botswana’s upcoming National Action Plan.

Ms Phuthego urged all participants to exchange ideas freely, noting that the successful development of the plan would be a landmark milestone for the nation’s security and gender equality goals. ENDS