Debates on the Gender Policy

| Friday July 31, 2015 15:27

Most Members of Parliament who have debated the policy lament the narrow definition of gender which they contend limits issues of gender to male or female. They argued there are contemporary gender issues that the policy fails to deal with. For instance, they contended that the policy not only fails to define but also doesn’t address issues of gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation, among others. The policy is more about the plight of women and how their situation may be improved. Whilst this is a good thing as shall be discussed below, the policy is unable to deal with other issues relating to gender.

Some of the issues raised by MPs include the need to reform laws and the gender policy to cater for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender/Transsexual and Intersexed. Some rhetorically asked what business does a secular state have in this day and age have in policing bedrooms. If people are good citizens; productively contributing to the economy and paying tax and obeying all laws why should they be punished and discriminated against simply for who they love? The reality is that these groups, however small or insignificant one may think they are, are here to stay. These groups should be accorded space to associate, express themselves and even assemble to deal with matters concerning them. Further arguments were made that the same culture which inhibited women’s fundamental human rights and pushed them to fringes of the social, economic and political sphere is the same one that’s thwarting efforts to recognise LGBTIs. Emphasis was put on the fact that Botswana is a secular state and that religion shouldn’t even be an issue.

Failure to acknowledge that there are gays and lesbians for instance has resulted in a public health sector that is unable to set up proper interventions including the fight against HIV/AIDS. Condoms are not provided in prisons notwithstanding the fact that male to male sex happens in our correctional facilities.  Public health education is targeted at heterosexuals only.

Some MPs also talked about the need acknowledge sex work as a trade because failure to do so will result in failure to properly intervene in terms of sexual reproductive health care.

The issue of termination of pregnancies or abortion also cropped up. The argument was that illegal or street abortions are not only a threat to the lives of many young people but also put pressure on the health care system because of medical treatment in terms of consultation time, drugs, bed space and other expenses.

The contention was that it may cost less to terminate a pregnancy than it is to deal with illegal terminations, which continue unabated with profound effects on those affected. It was further argued that those with the financial means simply fly abroad or drive to South Africa where the procedure is legal.

Most arguments centered around the plight of women.  Women have endured a lot of degradation, traditionally, politically and economically. While they make up nearly more than half of the Botswana population, however, their involvement in formal political structures and processes, where decisions regarding the use of national resources generated by both men and women are made, remains trivial.

Women suffer poverty, unemployment and underemployment and the gap in income and wealth between them and their male counterparts is wide. While there are women in top civil service positions, corporate executives of both private and state corporations and civil society, majority of women remain in dire conditions.

Out of 63 seats in Botswana Parliament, there are only 6 or 9, 5% women Members of the Assembly of which 4 are elected (1 from the opposition), 1 is specially elected and 1 is the Speaker. According to IPU, Rwanda ranks number 1 in Africa and the World with 63.8% women representation in the lower House and 38.5% in the upper House.

Other African countries doing great in this regard are Senegal at position 6 with 42.7% women representation in Parliament and South Africa at position 7 with 41.9% of women in the lower house and 35.2% in the upper House. With South Africa the situation is helped by the fact that African National Congress (ANC) resolved to increase the number of women on South Africa’s ruling party’s election lists to 50 percent (up from 30 percent) and this was further aided by its proportional representation electoral system.

Some male MPs argued against the policy of affirmative action to address the inadequacy of women participation in politics and said that there is no need to apply positive discrimination. MPs who argued in this manner pointed to few women MPs who trounced men in primary and general elections and argued that women are capable.

Whilst this is true, the argument is flawed in its failure to acknowledge fundamental challenges many women encounter in their quest to assume political or public office.

The policy hasn’t been passed yet and debates will continue because priority has been given to Bills, e.g. Special Economic Zones Bill.