US embassy hosts discussion on gender-based violence

| Wednesday May 22, 2013 00:00

 

The objective is to bring together key stakeholders - community leaders, officials from government and the National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA), NGOs, gender researchers, and youth leaders - to determine a set of specific actions to reduce GBV in the Ghanzi District. US Ambassador to Botswana Michelle Gavin will join the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Edwin Batshu in the discussion. The roundtable discussion is a follow-up to two key events:

*The '16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence' which is a United Nations campaign that takes place annually from November 25 (International Day of No Violence Against Women) through December 10 (International Human Rights Day). The campaign focuses primarily on generating increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children as well as on society as a whole.

*The International Women's Day, which is celebrated on March 8 with events held throughout the world to inspire and celebrate women's achievements. The 2013 International Women's Day theme - 'A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women' - challenges governments and communities to carry out interventions to address GBV. The US mission in Botswana is increasing its support for activities that address gender-based violence.

The US supports a five-year project to improve the livelihoods of households for vulnerable adolescents, especially girls and women. It is funding a civil society strengthening project to build the capacity of local NGOs to design gender sensitive programmes.

In addition, US Peace Corps Volunteers work with NGOs such as Women Against Rape in Maun, the Women's Shelter in Molepolole, and Stepping Stones International in Mochudi to build human and organisational capacity to respond effectively to GBV. Peace Corps Volunteers facilitate Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) clubs and camps to empower girls with life skills and strategies to respond to GBV.