Emang Basadi Women Association

Emang Basadi Women's Association will this year (2024) focus on it's Political Education Programme and project titled “Promoting Women into Political Positions and Leadership". We are carrying out the following activities in preparations for the 2024 General Elections a: Civic and Voter Education, Advocate for the review of the electoral system, Participate in the Constitutional review process and advocate and lobby for special measures to increase women’s participation in leadership. Emang Basadi continues to be concerned about Structural barriers, including discriminatory laws and patriarchy-based institutions; culture and cultural expectations, socially and culturally embedded stereotypes that obstruct women’s efforts to run for political office

International Day For The Elimination of Violence Against Women 2023
Emang Basadi provides psycho-social support to survivors of GBV mainly women, girls, boys, men and different target groups. We also refer cases to other collaborating organizations such as Dikgosi, police, guidance and counselling officers in Schools, other CSOs working around this issue, Legal Practioners and others.
For Media Enquiries Contact: Dr. Cheludo Tinaye Butale- Publicity -Secretary 73106370: Mme Ida Mokereitane-Executive Director-72172834 : Mme Theresa Gaorelathe Mmolawa-President-71381112

International Day For The Elimination of Violence Against Women 2023
The global theme of this year's 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence is ''UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls'' which emphasizes the need for funding prevention strategies to proactively stop gender-based violence.Botswana’s new constitution should have a section that addresses GBV specifically. It is important to support women and girls who encounter violence, for example, by ensuring they have access to justice, shelter and protection, whether violence is domestic or in the work place. To break the GBV cycle, policy interventions should focus on the longer-term by changing discriminatory social norms; closing gender gaps whether they are educational, economic or social level; or building awareness about GBV.

Emang Basadi Women Association is concerned about the Israel-Palestinian conflict that dates back to the end of the nineteenth century, primarily as a conflict over territory. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict seems more intractable. The international community needs to bring about a ceasefire, facilitate the provision of humanitarian aid to all in need, and re-instigate political processes in pursuit of a just resolution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Emang Basadi Women Association is concerned that national security is prioritised before women's right and struggle for equality. Sustainable processes towards conflict resolution should consider violence experienced by all sides.
For Media Enquiries Contact: Dr. Cheludo Tinaye Butale- Publicity -Secretary 73106370: Mme Ida Mokereitane-Executive Director-72172834 : Mme Theresa Gaorelathe Mmolawa-President-71381112

October is .
This year's theme, “No one should face breast cancer alone,” serves as a reminder for providers to consider the many ways they can partner with patients and families in the prevention, detection, and treatment of breast cancer
Women need:
✔️Early detection & prevention
✔️Accessible treatment
✔️Support for those who suffer from breast cancer.
✔️More research.
Emang Basadi Women Association continues to support breast cancer awareness, research, and treatment

Emang Basadi Women Association is raising funds through GoFundMe for its Mme Okae project or Political Education Programme. The aim of the fundraising initiative is to raise funds for political education campaigns, women's leadership workshops, economic empowerment programs for women leading up to the 2024 elections.
Please consider donating funds for the success of the initiative or sharing this link with your networks (no contribution is too small). The fundraising initiative has been made possible by Oatile Ramsay
For further enquires please contact Publicity Secretary -Dr Cheludo Tinaye Butale -73106370; Executive Director Ida Mokreitane -72172834 or Oatile Ramsay Organiser of the Political Education Programme

Political Education for Women in Botswana, organized by Oatile Ramsay “Go ruta mosadi ke go ruta sechaba” (“To educate a woman is to educate a nati… Oatile Ramsay needs your support for Political Education for Women in Botswana

Feminist Alliance Botswana (FAB), consisting of feminist activists from civil society , trade unions and political parties, held a workshop in Francistown supported by the Friedrich- Ebert-Stiftung (FES). Emang Basadi Women Association gender activists participated in the workshop organised by FES. The participants succeeded in creating a strategic work plan for activities to support goals to promote political feminism, foster collaboration amongst them and increase advocacy on cross-cutting issues.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY BOTSWANA 🇧🇼
Emang Basadi Women's Association joins the nation in celebrating 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚`𝐬 𝟓𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. This occasion serves as a reminder of Botswana's progress, resilience and unwavering commitment to growth and development while encouraging a 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭.

The Assistant Minister of Trade, Hon. Beauty Manake and Emang Basadi Women's Association Vice President, Mme Virginia Masole were invited to the Women Empowerment Workshop organised by Fruit of Life Ministries .
Mme Virginia Masole stated that the main objectives of Emang Basadi this year were to support women participating in politics. She stated that social media can be used as a tool that women can use to support each other in business and share business ideas which will ultimately help women grow "𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞"

Emang Basadi joined Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) in celebrating 50 years of FES being based in Botswana.The theme of the event was FES Botswana at50: Coffee and Politics.
Emang Basadi continue to focus on the capacity and skills development for increased representation of women in political leadership and interested with working with various development partners in achieving its goals/objectives.

Happy Women's Month:August 2023
Today we reflect on past achievements of women who have made history in South Africa and in Botswana. Emang Basadi Women's Association is committed to working towards greater social equality and the removal of all cultural and legal barriers which hinder the promotion of gender equality.

Emang Basadi Women Association recently travelled to Palapye, Selibe-Phikwe, Francistown and Hukuntsi to meet different stakeholders in order to host Stakeholder dialogues on the Botswana Constitutional Review Process. The dialogues focused on prioritized thematic areas: gender equality and women in politics issues.

Press Statement: The rise of Gender Based Violence in Botswana: Breaking the Vicious Cycle of GBV
Gender Based Violence (GBV) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in the world. In Botswana women are most victims and is indeed a major concern. GBV encompasses any act of violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering, as well as threats, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether in the public or private sphere. Over two thirds of women in Botswana (67%) report having experienced some form of gender violence in their lifetime, including partner and non-partner violence. Certain groups of women and girls are particularly vulnerable to GBV, including women and girls with disabilities, adolescent girls, women living with HIV/AIDS, and orphans and other children vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse. Most gender violence occurs in intimate partnership and statistics of men vulnerable to GBV tends to be less when compared to women.Emang Basadi Women’s Association is concerned by the high levels of GBV in Botswana
particularly intimate partner violence and r**e against women and girls and does not support violence against men and continues to monitor the trend. According to a report by the World Population Review r**e statistics of 2021, Botswana is the top of all countries on the r**e statistics in the world at 92.93 per 100,000 people. Recent incidents indicate an increase of GBV caused by male soldiers. Recently a male solider killed his wife and girlfriend. In 2019-2022 there were media reports that indicated that some male soldiers murdered or stabbed their wives to death. In another recent incident, a 40-year-old man killed his 34-year-old wife recently at the Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention & Support Centre during a marriage counselling session. Other media reports indicate male politicians being accused of GBV. Emang Basadi Women’s Association is also concerned by the growing number of missing persons’ cases concerning young people in Botswana with missing body parts.
Botswana needs to include a range of legislative and policy measures on GBV. These include the effective implementation, resourcing, and coordination of the national strategy to end GBV; the development of a law on GBV, review provisions in the penal code that have proved to be a stumbling block in addressing GBV. Botswana still lack skills and resources to accommodate people with disabilities. Collaboration between government, relevant stakeholders and NGOs is important to change the negative cultural mind-set and perception about women including women with disabilities and ensure equal power relations. Botswana needs to intensify its efforts to combat trafficking of persons, notably of women and children. The Ani-Human Trafficking Act of 2014 needs to remove fines as a possible sentence for the crime and increase criminal penalties for human trafficking, including prison sentences. Emang Basadi also holds the view that Botswana must look into having legislation that will zero into ritual killings and be used to ably deal with matters pertaining to that.
Vetting politicians and GBV policies in various political parties is also important and compilation of disaggregated and comprehensive data on firearms-related cases of violence against women is also important . Despite the prevalence of GBV across the globe, most Constitutions do not specifically mention GBV
or domestic violence. Emang Basadi participated in the review of the 1966 constitution and made the following suggestions on addressing GBV: Strengthening of existing shelters for victims and
improved access to protection services. A feature of the most recent Constitutions is that they do specifically mention GBV and the measures required to address it. For example, Zimbabwe’s
Constitution states that the country and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must protect and foster the institution of the family and in particular must endeavour, within the limits of the resources available to them, to adopt measures for the prevention of domestic violence. Botswana’s new constitution should have a section that addresses GBV specifically. It is important to support women and girls who encounter violence, for example, by ensuring they have access to justice, shelter and protection, whether violence is domestic or in the work place. But to break the GBV cycle, policy interventions should focus on the longer-term by changing discriminatory social norms; closing gender gaps whether they are educational, economic or social level; or building awareness about GBV.
For Media Enquiries Contact: Dr. Cheludo Tinaye Butale- Publicity -Secretary 73106370: Mme Ida Mokereitane-Executive Director-72172834 : Mme Theresa Gaorelathe Mmolawa-President-71381112

Emang Basadi (EB) will be hosting a gala dinner on the 15th of September at Gaborone International Convention Centre. The event themed "Empower a woman, bridge the gender gap" will be held to honour it's founding members. The dinner also aims at raising funds for some of EB's initiatives that include addressing sexual and gender-based violence in Botswana as well as promoting and campaigning for gender equality in politics and leadership positions. For more information please contact the Vice President of Emang Basadi-Virginia Masole at +26771399356 or Gloria Nkwe- Treasurer at +26771278778

"Our national unity will be stronger if it remains based as it is now,on diversity,mutual tolerance and consensus" Sir Seretse Khama
Happy Presidents Day from Emang Basadi Women's Association

Commonwealth Women's Parliamentarians Committee and Women Based Organisations,CSOs and NGO's held a meeting recently. Emang Basadi was represented by its Publicity Secretary Dr.Cheludo Tinaye Butale and member and advisor to the organisation Mme Rhoda Sekgororoane. The main issues discussed concerned issues that affect women from participating in politics. The issues include cultural barriers, discriminatory laws and patriarchal based institutions and lack of resources among other issues. Concerted efforts by all stakeholders including businesses to mobilize funds to support NGOs activities to promote gender equality is important.
Photo Credit: BW Parliament
For Media Enquiries Contact: Dr. Cheludo Tinaye Butale- Publicity -Secretary 73106370
Mme Ida Mokereitane-Executive Director-72172834
Mme Theresa Gaorelathe Mmolawa-President-71381112

Emang Basadi in partnership with Rev Tjibi participated in a " Donate a Bible Campaign on the 14th July 2023.Emang Basadi was represented by its Vice President -Mme Virginia Masole. They successfully donated 300 Bibles to mostly women in 3 villages. The donations were done in Changate main Kgotla, Senete main Kgotla and Tutume main Kgotla. Emang Basadi Women's Association is committed to working towards greater social equality and the removal of all cultural and legal barriers which hinder the promotion of gender equality.

PRESS STATEMENT: MEDIA REPORTS OF MISSING PERSONS
Emang Basadi Women’s Association is concerned by the growing number of missing persons’ cases concerning young people in Botswana. Among the most recent is the disappearance of Onkgomoditse Keipheditse (21) who has been missing since the 26th of May 2023 and was found recently buried with missing body parts and badly decomposed near the riverbank in Mmadinare village. We join her family and the entire nation in grieving this unfortunate situation. Missing persons and human trafficking are strongly interlinked and in many cases action in one area directly impacts the other. Most of the time, the vulnerable people who involuntarily go missing are the same vulnerable people that are susceptible to being trafficked. We urge the law enforcement to investigate, prosecute and convict trafficking offenders or make attempts to proactively identify and curb the trafficking of victims among vulnerable populations.
Botswana needs to intensify its efforts to combat trafficking of persons, notably of women and children. The Ani-Human Trafficking Act needs to remove fines as a possible sentence for the crime and increase criminal penalties for human trafficking, including prison sentences. We also hold the view that Botswana must look into having legislation that will zero into ritual killings and be used to ably deal with matters pertaining to that. It is important that formal victim identification procedures be available for use by all stakeholders and government must conduct public awareness campaigns, particularly in rural areas with Non-Governmental Organisations.
For Media Enquiries Contact: Dr. Cheludo Tinaye Butale- Publicity -Secretary 73106370
Mme Ida Mokereitane-Executive Director-72172834
Mme Theresa Gaorelathe Mmolawa-President-71381112

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the United Nations Development Programme recently organised an event on Mafoko a Kgotla, Botswana Talk Democracy. The main topic was: Can it be a Full Democracy without Women? Mme O Kae? Emang Basadi Women's Association embarked on a research on the Status of Women in Politics; referred to as ‘Mme O Kae?. The purpose of the research was to gauge perceptions and attitudes of the political party leadership, activists, prospective women candidates, women candidates, general public (electorates); on women’s involvement and participation in political decision making. The research focused on issues that obstruct women from taking up positions of decision making especially in the political arena. For Media Enquires Contact: Publicity Secretary Dr. Cheludo Tinaye Butale +26773106370 ; Executive Director Ida Mokereitane at +267 72 172 834; President Theresa Mmolawa at +267 71 381 112

Are you passionate about human rights issues and promoting gender equality? Become a member of Emang Basadi Women Association by downloading and filling in the form below and pay an annual subscription fee of only P100 . We look forward to having new members that include Women, Men and various disadvantaged groups . Contact the Secretary General - Mme Thatayaone Shashe 72849907 or Treasurer Mme Gloria Nkwe 71278778 for further enquires on payment subscription and referencing your name to payment. Emang Basadi Women's Association is committed to working towards greater social equality and the removal of all cultural and legal barriers which hinder the promotion of gender equality.

A successful run for a people driven constitution
Emang Basadi Women Association joined its partners and stakeholders in sensitizing, and capacitating the diverse Botswana population on the constitution and the review process.
For Media enquires Contact:
Publicity Secretary Dr. Cheludo Tinaye Butale +26773106370 ; Executive Director Ida Mokereitane at +267 72 172 834; President Theresa Mmolawa at +267 71 381 112
Council of NGOs
- The Botswana Centre for Human Rights

Union in Botswana

RUNNING TOWARDS A PEOPLE DRIVEN CONSTITUTION.
JOIN US!
Botswana Council of NGOs in partnership with Ditshwanelo , BONELA, and Emang Basadi Women Association supported by the European Union in Botswana planned an activation run themed "Running towards a People Driven Constitution."
Kindly register on the link to participate in the run:
https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSfgC.../viewform
Admission is Free. Hoping to see you there.

RUNNING TOWARDS A PEOPLE DRIVEN CONSTITUTION.

JOIN US!

Botswana Council of NGOs in partnership with Ditshwanelo - The Botswana Centre for Human Rights, BONELA, and Emang Basadi Women Association supported by the European Union in Botswana and powered by Fearless Fitness Club planned an activation run themed "Running towards a People Driven Constitution."

The activity is part of a project titled, “Botswana Constitutional Review Process: Towards a People Driven Constitution.” The aim of the project is to ensure a participatory, inclusive, and citizen owned constitution that strengthens the sustainable practice of human rights and democratic governance in Botswana.

Kindly register on the link to participate in the run:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgC-FOkDCt3c0KFeDfkM4KoBuRVWptffLOiCdJWtAVPpGRLQ/viewform

Hoping to see you there.

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing fathers and all those who play the role of a father. You are adored by your families and the rest of us too.

Emang Basadi Women Association would like to congratulate the co-founder of the organisation, Ntombi Setshwaelo for receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the second edition of Botswana Women’s Awards. Mma Setshwaelo advocates for social justice and personal transformation as means to productiveness and peaceful co-existence.

PRESS STATEMENT: RECENT INCIDENT WHERE A MAN KILLED HIS WIFE DURING A MARRIAGE COUNSELLING SESSION

Emang Basadi Women’s Association is concerned by the high levels of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Botswana. Recently a 40 year old man killed his 34 year-old wife, Kebabope Mmotlanyana, of Kopong at the Botswana Gender Based Violence Prevention & Support Centre during a marriage counselling session.

We wish to send our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, the Albinism community in Botswana and the general public. This incident shows that the various causes of GBV still need to be addressed. Patriarchal attitudes are a significant underlying factor driving the incidence of GBV in Botswana. While women and men affirm gender equality in the public domain this has not translated in their private lives particularly in their intimate relationships. Botswana should consider to include a range of legislative and policy measures on GBV. These include the effective implementation, resourcing, and coordination of the national strategy to end GBV; the development of a law on GBV, review provisions in the penal code that have proved to be a stumbling block in addressing GBV. Botswana still lack skills and resources to accommodate people with disabilities. We need to promote the development and implementation of disability legislation, policies, and laws, including resource allocations on a national level. Collaboration between government, relevant stakeholders and NGOs is important to change the negative cultural mind-set and perception about women including women with disabilities and ensure equal power relations.

Happy Africa Day🎉
On this day, we celebrate the enormous promise and potential of the diverse and dynamic continent of Africa. Emang Basadi Women's Association recognises the critical role of women, girls and other marginalised groups in promoting inclusive development and would like to ensure that all women, girls and other marginalised groups in Africa have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

PRESS STATEMENT: MEDIA REPORTS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS INFECTED WITH HIV EVERY WEEK
Emang Basadi Women’s Association is following recent media reports indicating that twenty (20) adolescent girls are infected with HIV every week. According to media reports, a new report from UNAIDS with data collected in 2022 states that young people (15-24) years are living with HIV in Botswana. The report indicates that there are 1400 new infections among young people (15-24) and 1100 are young girls. There are reportedly 520 new infections among adolescents (10-19 years), out of which 460 are young girls. Emang Basadi is concerned that there remain barriers in a number of laws protecting the right to gender equality and the rights of children and young adolescents. This includes the inadequate provision of age-appropriate information and education on HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and human rights to children and young adolescents which prevents them from protecting themselves from HIV infection. High levels of gender-based violence in Botswana also contributes to the disparity of HIV prevalence amongst women or girls when compared to men as well as gender inequality traced to socio-economic, cultural practices, institutional and legal factors. Emang Basadi would like government to consider taking action to ensure full implementation and enforcement of laws protecting the right to gender equality and the rights of children and youth as well as address existing barriers through provision in law of the age of consent to HIV testing, medical treatment and all related health services. It is important to allow access to such services for persons younger than 16 without parental consent and ensuring that HIV-related prevention and services such as the provision of contraception, information and voluntary HIV testing are available. The Children’s Act has to be fully implemented and enforced and it is also important that civil society organisations be involved in the implementation of HIV-related programmes, policies or laws for children. For Media Enquires Contact: Publicity Secretary Dr. Cheludo Tinaye Butale +26773106370 ; Executive Director Ida Mokereitane at +267 72 172 834; President Theresa Mmolawa at +267 71 381 112