Work to ensure Botswana signs the SADC Protocol has intensified in the country

The Botswana Council of Non Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) convened a two-day workshop between 22-24 November under the banner “Gender and Development – whose agenda is it?”

The workshop sought to shed light on the SADC Protocol of Gender and Development and to assess Botswana’s position on signing and ratification of the Protocol, as well as to develop a plan to lobby the state to sign the Protocol.

Keletso Rakhudu, Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning officially opened the workshop, which drew more than 120 participants from NGOs and government departments working on gender and development issues, as well all the women’s wings of political parties.

BOCONGO presented on the SADC Protocol and the Protocol Alliance, focusing on its structure and clusters. Other presentations included a report on the Beijing +15 with recommendations from the review, which was held in New York in February. Participants were also given an NGO Shadow Report to inform them on what the NGOs had presented.

Participants also wrote a letter to the office of the President – again – to lobby for his signature on the Protocol. A decision was taken to revive and strengthen the Botswana National Council on Women. It was also decided that the work of the Alliance will be presented at workshops to be held across the country.