BNFWL on 16 Days of Activism Against GBV

1.0. The Botswana National Front Women’s League joins other progressives movements and institutions on the international campaign to challenge violence against women and children.  

1.1. Women and children are primary victims of the patriarchal society which we live in,although both men and women are victims of this society,women suffer more at the hands of this patrirchal system. Women and children are constant and perpetual victims of rape,murder,child marriages,defilement,female genital mutilation,honor murder,correct rape and physical violence. All of these take place either at the homestead,the work place,political spaces,places of worship and public spaces.

1.2. Botswana has become a rape nation,an average of 6 women are raped daily and this number is exclusive of undocumented rapes that go unchallenged because of various issues that include victim blaming.

2.0. The Botswana National Front Womens League urges all stakeholders involved to join hands in fighting Gender Based Violence in our communities. The fight against Gender Based Violence can not be won by an individual or a movement that works in isolation,we all need to join hands in fighting for the rights of women and children.

2.1. There are different stakeholders which must play a key role by leading at the frontlines, firstly we believe the government must have policies in place that seek to close the economic disparities between men and women.

2.1.1. Statistics around the world indicate that women are most affected by poverty compared to men. This puts women at a place of vulnerability, they stay in abusive relationships which end up claiming their innocent lives.

2.1.2. The Botswana Democratic Party led government must treat this issue with the urgency it deserves and stop agenda setting,we need an action and policy based solution to the violence injured by women and children.

2.2. The Botswana National Front Womens League also urges traditional and spiritual leaders such as dikgosi to actively contribute to the fight against this cruel and inhumane treatment against women. The violence happens because of our socialization and we believe traditional and spiritual leaders must play a pivotal role in moulding behavior of our communities especially that of men.

3.0. Lastly the BNFWL encourages all political parties to take disciplinary measures against gender based violence perpetrators in political spaces,perpetrators must face disciplinary action regardless of the power or position they may hold in political parties. Political parties must have fully functional sexual harrasment policies to cubb the violence of women in political spaces. Signed   BNF WL-Secretary General Resego Kgosidintsi