Botswana has long been facing a gender-based violence crisis, with one in three women having experienced abuse in their lifetime, according to the 2018 National Relationship Study.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, the womens’ shelters in the country were reportedly overwhelmed by numbers of survivors in need of safe spaces, reflecting the crisis we are in. Whilst the country has made a commitment to reduce Gender Based Violence, the ongoing case involving a Directorate of Public Prosecutions attorney, Keipeile Stoffel shows that there is still a long way to go for society to defeat the monster.
The case has since drawn public attention, highlighting issues GBV disputes and the measures taken to protect alleged victims and children while balancing the rights of the accused. These come after, the victim allegedly pleaded with court to release her boyfriend, who stands accused of assaulting her. She reasons that she did not report her boyfriend, meaning that she may be okay with the accused’s actions. She maintains that what the state and the public consider assault is, in her view, simply a disagreement between two lovers. Her words have divided opinion as to what exactly should be done to address the GBV issue.
However, one thing that we should understand is that GBV is a community issue and for many women and girls, families and community members are the first line of defense against GBV. This means that victims should understand that the issue is national, and therefore once in public like this one, the onus is no longer with the victims. The first priority when responding to gender-based violence must be to respond to the needs of victims/survivors, and ensure that they are properly protected. The society and the state must take over to ensure the victim’s protection lest the battle against GBV will be lost before it even begins. Botswana is a small country, with a small population. Losing lives to HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases has already taken a toll on this nation. We cannot afford to have another monstrous disease claiming lives alongside the two. We should do more to protect the victims. It is true that in these situations, they are no longer in control of their mental being but are just captives.
The state officially has a responsibility for support services, but in many communities, they will be provided by third parties such as civil society organisations and in particular by women’s organisations. It is the responsibility of all to end the culture of silence around GBV.
Today's thought
"Domestic abuse will never end until we make it socially unacceptable" – Mark Groves, National Centre for Domestic Violence
