Parliament has learnt that despite inter-ministerial committee on Gender Based Violence (GBV) that was formed in 2020 to curb the scourge, GBV remains the country’s nightmare.
This was revealed by the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare responding to a question that was asked by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gaborone North, Mpho Balopi who had asked the Minister to state progress made regarding the inter-ministerial committee on GBV, which was a result of a 2020 Parliamentary motion, its performance and any signs of improvement of GBV cases statistics.
“On whether or not there are any signs of improvement of GBV cases statistics, I regret to inform this House that GBV cases continue to rise in the country. The rise can neither be attributable to the availability of the committee nor its non-availability. However, government made efforts towards legislative reform which include among others, the Criminal Procedure & Evidence Act (2011), establishment and roll out of the gender and child protection branch by the police to mention but a few,” Rakgare said.
Rakgare further stated that the committee has a big role in combating GBV,hence pleading with MPs and the public to render support to it so that the country defeat the menace of GBV.
