Community initiatives target gender-based violence in Botswana and Eswatini

In Botswana, the Jwaneng Mine and the Jwaneng Town Council have launched a joint community campaign titled ‘Uprooting GBV Drivers from Our Communities’. The initiative aims to address the root causes of gender-based violence (GBV) by challenging harmful social norms, unequal power relations, and the culture of silence. Debswana Jwaneng Mine General Manager Goitseone Gadifele emphasized that collaboration between local authorities, community leaders, and residents is essential to fostering safety and dignity.

In Eswatini, men participating in a dialogue forum at Mhlosheni called for increased public education regarding the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act of 2018. Participants expressed concerns that misinformation about the legislation is causing fear and misunderstanding within families. The forum, organized through the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office, addressed issues including children’s rights, parental responsibility, and the need to ensure cultural practices are not used to justify coercion or abuse.