Botswana has not ratified and domesticated ILO Convention 190, whose primary objective is to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace, neither has the country domesticated the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development which was signed in 2017.

According to the Botswana Congress Party ( BCP) , these red flags are a clear demonstration of a lack of political will from those entrusted with women’s wellbeing to combat Gender

Based Violence ( GBV).

Furthermore, BCP Secretary for Labour and Gender Expert Daisy Bathusi said this week that the party has observed that the right to safety and security as a second generational right is not entrenched in the constitution.

While cases of Gender- Based Violence ( GBV) many with fatal consequences continue to escalate, Bathusi said the party has lately observed luxurious spending on pet projects, when resources are not availed to protect women.

“The ministry responsible for gender affairs recently gambled with P61million in a bid book to host 2027 Afcon games. This clearly demonstrates just how little government regards women’s lives in this country, underpinning the saying ‘ putting your money where your mouth is.’

“The government’s flippant attitude is further highlighted in the attention given to sexual harassment, which is a low end on GBV but one area from which preventative action against GBV can be premised,” Bathusi explained.

She argued that this reluctance to view the fight against sexual harassment as a possible panacea to ending GBV is a counterproductive posturing in the war against the GBV scourge.

As a party, she said they demand women’s constitutional rights to protection and security and a comprehensive allocation to GBV interventions, in the upcoming supplementary budget. She pointed out that the preservation of women’s lives and instilling women’s rights to coexist as citizens of this republic without fear is paramount.

“The country has focused more on treating symptoms as opposed to the disease itself. Though we have known that our challenges with GBV emanate from our socialisation and cultural believes, which invariably impacts on our behavioural traits, our premise and focus on dealing with GBV has primarily being on remedial as opposed to preventative action.”

According to Bathusi, there is also reluctance by government to declare GBV a crisis and therefore deserving special interventions and resources. She believes that concerted efforts by Botswana government should be visible and practical at the very least.

“We demand a budget and programmes that clearly demonstrate the commitment to the cause.” The BCP wants no more lip service and ticking

the boxes without any tangible outputs. According Bathusi, they have noted that instead of elevating the visibility of gender issues, the Ministry of Gender was relocated under the Youth and Culture with very little increase on the budget.