Africa-Press – Botswana. Gender-based violence (GBV) is not a social issue but a human right violation.
Delivering a speech on behalf of Francistown Mayor at the Cristal Victory Home sponsored walk in Francistown on Saturday, Francistown City Council official, Ms Dorcas Moemedi said GBV undermined the dignity, security and well-being of victims majority of whom were women and children.
She added that the pain and trauma caused by GBV not only affected victims but had a ripple effect on families and communities, weakening the fabric of the society.
Ms Moemedi further said reports showed that GBV incidents increased every day, which called for action.
She said many GBV cases went unreported due to fear, stigma and lack of trust in the system.
“We must break the silence, we must create an environment where survivors feel safe to seek help and where perpetrators are held responsible for their actions”, Ms Moemedi added.
Ms Moemedi further stated that ending GBV was not just the responsibility of the law enforcement officers but required a collective effort.
She emphasised sensitisation on GBV and the importance of respect, equality and healthy relationships.
Men and boys, she said, should be engaged in the fight against GBV as they had a crucial role to play in standing up against violence, protecting the vulnerable and being role models to positive masculinity.
She added that the city of Francistown was committed to strengthening policies and partnerships that would ensure better protection, prevention and response mechanisms against GBV.
Ms Moemedi said silence protected abusers but speaking out protected the victims and helped to bring change.
“I urge each and every one of you to take a stand. If you see something, say something. If you hear something, do something”, she said
For his part Cristal Victory Home founder, Mr Gorata Mbakile said anti-GBV events were a clarion call to action, a plea for justice, and a commitment to protect the fundamental rights of the most vulnerable members of the society.
He said violence against women and children was a human rights violation which denied them their right to safety, dignity, and equality.
“It robs them of the opportunity to fully participate in society, undermining the very essence of what it means to be human,” added Mr Mbakile. He said it was the responsibility of the society to end GBV, adding that engagements such as the walk aimed to stimulate all Batswana to be active participants in the fight against the scourge.
Furthermore he noted that his organisation aimed to ensure mobilisation of communities to promote collective responsibility in the fight to end GBV hence the sponsored walk.
“As an organisation we aim to actively engage men and boys in the discourse about combating violence in homes, communities and in the workplace,” he added.
Mr Mbakile advised that community leaders must challenge harmful cultural practices and beliefs such as ‘men do not cry’ as they perpetuate violent behavior that resulted from harbouring negative emotions.
He urged the private sector to also play its part by promoting workplaces that were free from harassment and discrimination.
Source: dailynews
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