08/05/2026
NARDI Commemorates Mother's Day in advance focusing on GBV
The event opened with Department of Human Resources Director Ms Nnosang Mohutsiwa telling the story of Mother's Day. She said mothers must continue to nurture each other not only at homes but even at workplaces to build strong teams and task forces. She concluded that people must honor their mothers while they are still alive.
Botho Ntswaneng, the Managing Director of Botho Speaks and also the Psychosocial Practitioner with over 30 years' experience said that GBV has a long history, even shown in some biblical scriptures where women were belittled, pained, and abused but it has gotten worse with times, and this is unacceptable, She said that, women cannot take it anymore; they need to stand up, speak up, be united, and fight GBV. Ms Ntswaneng added that GBV has woven itself into people’s daily lives and taken other forms, so women must support and look out for each other and the girl child. She highlighted that the fight against GBV has come a long way, so women must celebrate themselves, form empowerment alliances. She hinted that Botswana has GBV centers, women shelter therefore women must seek help and report GBV cases.
Ms Tumisang Tlhobogang, BONELA Legal Officer, described GBV as any harmful act based on gender that results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological, or economic harm or suffering. She said that in Botswana, UNFPA describes GBV as one of the most prevalent human rights violations with major impacts on health, dignity, and autonomy. Ms Tlhobogang shared that GBV forms include physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, psychological, and economic abuse, together with intimidation, harassment, stalking, and damage to property and in Botswana it is addressed through a combination of laws, not a single statute. She taught about several legal statutes and policies addressing GBV, reasons people withdraw cases, and the general process of reporting to the Police.
NARDI Director of Food Science and Technology Dr Mosele highlighted that as a nation we are only dealing with the symptoms, not root causes being the patriarchal system. Women spoke in one voice that the main root cause must be addressed with the same energy, and a boy child must be carried along to avoid worst scenarios in the future.
NARDI Executive Director of Research and Development Dr Charity Kruger thanked the organisers of the session, BONELA, and Botho Speaks for the informative presentations. She requested that BONELA also look into organisations as GBV has crept into workplaces. She encouraged mothers to continue nurturing homes as nation builders, providers, caregivers, and protectors.
