Botswana, Gaborone: The Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, has implored all stakeholders to respond to Gender Based Violence at all levels of public, private and Civil Society Organizations.
Minister Rakgare spoke during the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender Based Violence meeting held yesterday morning at Botswana Parliament Annexes. The intention of the meeting was to discuss the Gender Based Violence situation and Botswana’s response plan for combating GBV.
Botswana MYSC Minister Rakgare alluded that the Government of Botswana as a signatory to various conventions recognizes the fact that Gender Based Violence, particularly against women and children, invalidates their full enjoyment of human rights.
He further said, “It is also very important that we accede to and domesticate all international and regional instruments on Gender Based Violence.”
For her part, Principal Gender Officer Elizabeth Motshubi highlighted that GBV is a complex phenomenon that requires a community based, multi-pronged and multi-sectoral approach as well as sustained engagement with multiple stakeholders.
She reiterated that everyone in the society needs to create space to discuss the best practices for preventing, responding and protecting victims.
In furtherance, Motshubi mentioned that in order to strengthen efforts for GBV mitigation, the government has established interventions such as the passing of the Sexual Offenders Registry Act (2021), Cybercrime and Computer Related Crimes (Act), Bogosi Gender Pitso, The Women and Men Sector as well as Domestic Violence Act in 2008 and developed its Regulations in 2013 to facilitate effective implementation of the Act.
The entourage comprised the Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti; The Assistant Minister for State President, Dumezweni Mthimkhulu; the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Hon. Anna Mokgethi; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for State President, Goitsemang Morekisi, Ministry of Youth, Gender, sports and Culture (MYSC) Permanent Secretary Mr Kagiso Kitso Kemoeng and various representatives from civil society organizations.
