Sexual harassment drives girls away from sport
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday December 9, 2015 09:03
Speaking at media briefing in Gaborone yesterday, Mothibi said girls aged between 13 and 16 years continue to experience Gender Based Violence (GBV) in sport, particularly sexual harassment. She said this continues to be a barrier for girls to participate in sports in Botswana.
She called for the vetting and screening of coaches and officials before they are allowed to work with children. Mothibi said there is a road map to work with all stakeholders to root out GBV. She added that part of the reason for Botswana to host IWG was to assist Botswana sport to be aware of such issues and ways to handle them.
HeForShe in sport campaign champion, Solly Reikeletseng called for the establishment of sexual harassment policy in sport. He said there is still a long way to go and the policy should not only be for sport. Reikeletseng said it is unfortunate that perpetrators involved in sexual cases are appointed in leadership positions.
Deputy chairperson of the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), Tebogo Kesupile said there is need for research to be done when dealing with GBV issues. She warned that people should not be carried away by emotions. Kesupile said plans are underway for research before a policy is established.
Meanwhile, Reikeletseng, also the BNSC chairperson, has set an ambitious target of signing 20,000 men by the end of next year.
He said when he was appointed as the champion, he made the commitment to mobilise men in the community to take action and become a part of the movement that stands against GBV.
He said in the beginning he planned to mobilise 200 men within the 16 days of activism against GBV and 1,000 by the end of this month to take action and sign up to the HeForShe commitment.
“Both these targets have been reached within the shortest possible period and is still growing. We are now at 1,344 today. It is not just a verbal commitment, but a commitment to support women and girls in the fight against GBV and discrimination,” he said.
Reikeletseng said GBV remains a subject that is difficult to discuss. He said there are many GBV cases that remain unreported because the victims are afraid to speak up.
He said he held meetings with victims who complained against their male counterparts in sport. He said some felt the cases tarnish the image of sport, but if they are not reported they kill the sport. d a private meeting to reconcile the two and what has been agreed is not going to be changed,” Venson-Moitoi said.
Masisi then told the MPs to desist from seeking further explanation since the matter had been resolved. “We talked about what we will do going forward to avoid this kind of issue and every leader will talk to his members on this issue,” Masisi said.