Botswana: Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Botswana launched 16 days of activism campaign on violence against women and children. As part of this, the Gender Affairs Department met with the youth of Lentsweletau village for conversations surrounding GBV.
The Department appealed to the youth to come up with recommendations on how to tackle the social ills and eliminate GBV in their community.
This year’s theme of the campaign is “Unite activism to end violence against women and children.”
Councillor for Lentsweletau West, Court Tolobu, who is also the youth representative, applauded the department. He said defilement, rape and threat-to-kill cases statistics had gone up over the years, and that was worrisome.
Katlego Chakalisa from BIRRO (Botswana Institute of Rehabilitation Reintegration of Offenders) said their objective was to rehabilitate perpetrators of GB. They added that it is important that society does not discriminate against ex convicts and label them, making it harder for them to become changed individuals.
Their mandate is also to prevent future inmates, so they counsel offenders through boot camps so they do not commit offences.
The young people, through Senior Gender Officer Gorata Ntshwabi, delved deep into the cause roots of incest and defilement. They explored issues like culture and upbringing as causes for such behaviours. The dialogue was able to expose the young people to the correct information that irons out several misconceptions.
The recommendations made were for young girls not to go out for entertainment without their own money as they end up in vulnerable positions.
They also encouraged girls to be financially independent so that they don’t become vulnerable to predators. The youth also agreed to reduce drug and alcohol intake as it has negative impacts on their behaviour.
MYSC also printed t-shirts in order to promote them, and t-shirts are printed with the name BiRbO, Say no to Drugs! Drugs End All Dreams… and with the number given for helpline.