14 Oct 2024

Goo Tawana  traditional leadership has vowed to advocate for elimination of cultural practices that promote gender inequality and violates human rights.

Speaking at the two-day training that seeks to empower traditional leaders on issues of gender equality in Maun recently, participants agreed to integrate gender equality issues into their daily duties to ensure it was part of their decision-making and community engagement.

The training held under the campaign,  Dikgosi tsa Goo Tawana Dixhadile was organised by the Department of Gender Affairs in collaboration with Queen Esther organisation.

Dikgosi said by so doing, it could help break the gender gap and bridge the disparity between women and men as well as girls and boys.

They resolved that each leader should adopt a school where they would conduct outreach activities by engaging students on various topics such as leadership, Botho, gender equality and other pressing societal  challenges.

Earlier on, Kgosi Tawana Moremi appreciated dikgosi for being part of the training saying their presence was a clear indication of their commitment to personal growth and the transformation of the communities through their campaign.

He acknowledged that their initiative, Dikgosi Dixhadile was more than just a campaign but a foundation of a movement aimed at setting new standards for the future of young people.

“We envision a community where we have significantly reduced the alarming statistics of teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, substance and alcohol abuse and the erosion of good moral values among our young people. Through this campaign, we are working to restore and nurture values such as respect, discipline and a strong cultural identity,” he added.

Kgosi Tawana further noted that it was critical to guide and support children as well as to address any cultural practices that no longer serve the community’s best interests.

He said their aim was to ensure young people grew up with the strength of traditional values while being equipped with the tools they need to thrive in a modern world.

He also thanked Queen Esther organisation for supporting the initiative as well as the departments of youth and gender affairs for their invaluable support in facilitating the training.

“Together we can make this vision a reality and create lasting positive change in the lives of our youth and communities,” he emphasised.

Principal Gender Officer, Mr Felix Mapeu, said the training was important as traditional leaders were the custodian of culture. He said thy had a critical role in shifting the deep rooted cultural beliefs that justify the perpetuation of harmful practices.

He said the training was ideal so that they speak with one voice towards addressing issues of gender inequality, which he said could fuel poverty, discrimination, unemployment, limited access to resources and deep-rooted stereotypes that limited women’s participation in education and decision making, among others.

Botswana, he said, had ratified and acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1996, demonstrating commitment to ending discrimination against women and promoting women’s rights.

Furthermore, Mr Mapeu said the country acceded to other instruments, which promoted gender equality and women’s empowerment such as the Southern African Development Community Protocol on Gender and Development in 2017.

“Botswana is also a member state of the United Nations and we are committed to the Sustainable Development Goals especially goal five on achieving gender equity and empowering all women.

To achieve that, the country has developed and is implementing the 2015 National Policy on Gender and Development and its addendum as well as the 2016 National Strategy towards ending gender-based violence,” he added. Ends