Civil Society Organizations Welcome Domestic Violence Bill

| Monday February 18, 2008 00:00

We would like to commend Parliament for passing the said Bill and in particular the Member of Parliament, Gladys Kokorwe for her tireless efforts in advancing this important matter.

The Domestic Violence legislation will be an important step for protecting the rights of those most vulnerable and signals Botswana's commitment to up-holding human rights obligations. By establishing this legislation, Botswana will be aligning herself with many other countries in the region such as Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius and South Africa.

We trust that President Festus Mogae, will emulate Parliament and sign the Bill into law. While we acknowledge the significance of the impending Act, we are of the view that certain aspects of profound importance are not included. The Bill as it stands does not materially change the current legal framework addressing violence. To make real and lasting impact, we strongly believe that the following issues need to be included in the Botswana Domestic Violence Bill.  

* Establishment of Special Police Units on Domestic Violence

It is important that there be special training of police officers to handle domestic violence cases.

* Protocols for police and prosecution services for the handling of domestic violence complaints
 
Police and prosecution services need detailed instructions on how to respond to domestic violence complaints in accordance with the law. Such protocols should cover domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and assault.

* Provision of shelter and other services for domestic violence survivors

The Bill should make provision for state funding of shelters for survivors of domestic violence, including provision for funding of already existing shelters.

* Marital rape

The Bill is to be commended for its recognition that sexual abuse can occur within a domestic relationship, including marriage. Recognising that power imbalances exist in many relationships between men and women, it is necessary to protect women from sexual violence in the home. This is particularly important in light of the HIV epidemic in Botswana which reveals considerably higher HIV prevalence amongst women (including married women) than men. A number of countries in the SADC region, for example, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa, have recently clarified that rape within marriage carries the criminal offence of rape.

BONELA is an NGO that promotes a just and inclusive environment for people affected by HIV and AIDS. Visit our website on www.bonela.org The KWSP is a voluntary non-profit making organization which raises awareness amongst the community about domestic violence and HIV/AIDS. Contact KWSP on Tel/Fax 3907 659.