Botswana Police Service- No. 4 District

Synopsis
I hold a strong view that “Public education is a pre-requisite for ending Gender Based Violence ” and as such our practice revolved around taking the message to the people (Public Education) as a stepping stone towards ending GBV in our communities. We are a law enforcement organisation and we believe that it is wise to teach a person than to come enforcing laws upon them. The fact that ending GBV needs a concerted effort by various organisations, we worked in partnership with other stakeholders.

Key objectives
We sent out invitations to various schools, organisations and institutions so that we got to address employees and students on issues of GBV. Some organisations also sent us invitations to teach their employees. We covered the whole issue of GBV as well as Gender Mainstreaming in organisations. The main idea was to educate attendants on the effects of GBV across the board and the stand of the law on perpetrators of GBV.
Key activities
As said in the previous paragraphs, we set out on public education campaigns to educate people about GBV. We also attended various events hosted by other organisations and used that platform to send out such messages. One vital activity was to ask for slots in other companies ’ events and set up stalls distributing educational materials on GBV.

Partnerships and coalition building
The campaign to reduce Gender Based Violence has promoted excellent partnerships and partnership building with other organisations locally. We have a very compact relationship with the Lobatse District Gender Committee, the Botswana Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation (BAPR), The District Youth Council (DYC), The Ministry of Youth, sport and Culture in Lobatse, Re Mmogo Youth Organisation, to mention only a few.
Working with governments
The target that we have achieved by far is that aiming at Women Empowerment and People living with disability. The Botswana Police Women Network Champion sits on regional platform of SARPCCO Women Networks where they strategize on issues relating to women.
Evidence
“The Botswana Police Women Network has decided to take a stand against Gender Based Violence and disabled members of the society especially women and the girl child. We educate the community about the rights of People living with disability and that they should be free from any form of abuse or violence ”, Botswana Police Gender Focal Person, Senior Superintendent Elizabeth Mamapilo speaking at the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence at Otse.

Working with civil society
We have taken intensive public education campaigns and stakeholder participation by visiting schools, churches and governmental organizations spreading messages of uprooting GBV from the Society. We also take part in various activities hosted by other organizations in our area.

Evidence
“If it hadn ’t been by the great work of the Police through enforcement of laws that forbid gender based violence in our society, offences relating to GBV as well as perpetrators of such incidents would be on the rise and unstoppable. We should commend this organization for trying their best in protecting us from such

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