Africa-Press – Botswana. The Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs is advancing plans for a comprehensive Gender-Based Violence Bill focused on prevention, education, protection, and community empowerment. As part of this process, the Ministry held a consultative session with youth to gather their perspectives and recommendations.
In her opening remarks, Entreprenher Coordinator Mrs Lydia Mafoko Ditsa emphasized that the forthcoming Bill will be gender-inclusive, addressing the needs of both girls and boys. She noted that holistic approaches to GBV are essential for achieving gender equality and empowering women, stating that “if GBV is not addressed, there will be no peace.”
Youth participants highlighted key recommendations during the engagement. They called for culturally sensitive legislation and strengthened awareness campaigns. They urged performance reviews to ensure accountability among service providers and emphasized the inclusion of authentic and diverse groups in policy discussions.
Education emerged as a critical area, with suggestions to mainstream GBV education at all levels of schooling. Mental health support for victims and perpetrators was also recommended, along with legislation and funding for community projects focusing on the moral development of the boy child as a preventive measure.
Youth also proposed empowering youth organisations to lead GBV campaigns that combine awareness with job creation. Other recommendations included timely processing of termination-of-pregnancy orders for rape survivors, establishing clear standards for survivor-centred shelters, and creating a centralized digital platform to collect, analyse, and display GBV data.
The Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs will collaborate with the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Attorney General’s Chambers, and the National Assembly to ensure a coordinated drafting process. The next step is issuing an instruction to the Attorney General for the formal drafting of the Bill.
This legislation represents a major step toward justice, safety, and dignity for all people in Botswana. It reflects a commitment to addressing GBV comprehensively and engaging youth as active stakeholders in shaping policies that affect their communities.
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