The Botswana Christian Health and AIDS Intervention Program (BOCHAIP), in collaboration with the Gender Affairs Department launched the opening of a two-day training for pastors. The theme of the training initiative is, “Christ’s Love: Breaking the Chain of Gender-Based Violence and Re-building Lives.”
The training is being hosted to get the religious leaders ready for the necessary skills and knowledge to actively contribute to the prevention of GBV in the country.
Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Lesego Chombo, delivered the keynote address at the launch of the training programme. She said that the fight against GBV is a collective responsibility and needs to be tackled with a multi-sectoral approach.
“The church is a cornerstone of Botswana’s moral fabric,” Minister Chombo said. At this time, she urged the pastors to take an active role in the battle against GBV.
She asked the church leaders to offer balanced and gender-sensitive counseling to survivors, stressing the importance of not passing judgment or taking sides. Minister Chombo also hoped to cultivate stronger collaboration between the church, law enforcement, and the justice system. This will help to ensure that the criminals are held accountable.
Minister Chombo said that it was important to promote positive masculinity. The people must be aware of not tagging all men as perpetrators.
The stakeholders should acknowledge men who treat women with respect and raise their children well.
Bridget Mphusu, CEO of BOCHAIP said that the church plays a crucial role in curbing GBV and providing healing. She acknowledged that they need to raise awareness about GBV and give pastors access to the tools to identify the signs of abuse.
“Some pastors use scripture to justify violence, and we aim to address these misconceptions,” said Mphusu. She asked the pastors to guide people and support survivors of violence with compassion and understanding.
The organizations are dedicated to creating a Botswana where women and girls are safe. They want to make sure that mutual respect is taught in Botswana and that the church can be a sanctuary of peace, justice, and refuge.