15 hours agoMinister Calls for Collective Effort to Advance Justice and Equality for Women

Moshana Village – The Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Honourable Lesego Chombo, has called on Batswana to play an active role in advancing justice, equality and empowerment for women and girls, stressing that gender equality must begin at home and be sustained across communities and institutions. Speaking during the commemoration of International Women’s Day in Moshana Village on Wednesday, the Minister said the 2026 theme, “Give to Gain: Advancing Justice, Equality and Empowerment for Women and Girls,” challenges individuals, communities and institutions to invest resources, time and commitment towards uplifting women and girls. She explained that the theme underscores the importance of intentionally investing in women’s advancement, noting that when societies invest in women and girls, the benefits extend to families, communities and the nation as a whole.

The Minister emphasised that the call to “give” is not about extending sympathy or favours to women, but about ensuring that women and girls have equal access to opportunities and resources available within society. She urged citizens to reflect on what they can personally contribute to advancing gender equality, particularly at household level where women and girls often carry multiple responsibilities that may limit their opportunities. According to the Minister, raising boys and girls in homes where responsibilities and opportunities are shared equally helps shape attitudes that support equality later in life.

Teaching boys to respect girls as equals and encouraging girls to pursue their ambitions without limitation contributes to building a more inclusive and equitable society. She added that gender equality should not only be pursued through national policies or legal frameworks, but should also be nurtured within families and communities where values and behaviours are formed. The Minister further highlighted that advancing access to justice for women and girls remains both a global and national priority.

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She referenced the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2023, which ranked Botswana 51st out of 142 countries globally and fourth out of 34 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of rule of law and justice. Despite global declines in the rule of law over the past several years, Botswana was among the few countries that recorded improvements in its score. However, the Minister acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly regarding accessibility of justice services in rural and remote areas where courts are often located far from communities.

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