Director stresses need for national GBV policy

Director of government's Women Affairs Department, Valencia Mogegeh, has said there is growing demand for a national policy or guidelines to ensure a systematic approach in the prevention and eradication of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

Speaking at the second Botswana SADC Gender Protocol Summit and Awards, hosted by Gender Links at Boipuso Hall, Mogegeh told the gathering that plans are at an advanced stage to develop a 365-day plan of action for GBV prevention and eradication. She said the 2012 GBV indicators study conducted in Botswana revealed that a greater proportion of women who experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or rape were diagonosed with sexually transmitted infections compared to those who had not experienced IPV or rape.

She said 20.3 percent of the women who experienced sexual IPV  in their life were HIV positive.  The study  revealed that of the women who experienced IPV in their lifetime, 8.7 percent attempted suicide. During the 12 months preceding the study, the figure was 11.6 percent. The study found that 15 out of 100 women who were raped in their lifetime attempted suicide. Of the women who were raped during the 12 months preceding the study, 30.8 percent attempted suicide.
Mogegeh said there has been recommitment to the establishment of the national GBV Referral System.

Editor's Comment
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