Flimsy excuses surround Gender Protocol
Thursday, April 17, 2014
While the country has made tremendous strides in terms of women empowerment and gender equality, it remains a sore point that after all these years Botswana is still to sign the SADC Protocol for Gender and Development. In fact, in the six years since it was established, Botswana is one of only two countries in the region that are still to sign the Protocol.
It is baffling why government still refuses to sign the protocol, which is after all, an instrument that would show its commitment to developing and implementing legislation and policies to provide for gender equality and women empowerment. Some of the arguments proffered against signing in the past have included the alleged financial implications of the Protocol, an excuse that seems to have become a standard chorus despite the lack of proper substantiation.
We duly congratulate them to have ousted the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Prior to taking power from the BDP, the coalition had made several election promises that are credited for influencing change and swaying the people to vote in its favour.The party had made an undertaking, which its leader and President Duma Boko consistently bellowed in his campaign trail. These undertakings were promises that Batswana would be...