Botswana Women speak out on Constitution

Gaborone, Monday 25 July: Women Speak Out comprising women from all five major political parties, women’s rights organisations and civil society partners will present their submission to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution of today.

The presentation will take place at Maruapala Community Centre, Gaborone at 15:00. The media are also invited to a Press Conference taking place at the President Hotel in Gaborone on Tuesday, 26 July, at 07.30 am on the submission and next steps.

Since the written submission made to the Commission in June 2022, 229 individuals and organisations have endorsed the submission: 194 from Botswana; 27 from Southern Africa (27) and eight from other regions of the world. Women Speak Out note that a compelling reason for the review of Botswana’s 55- year- old Constitution is to ensure compliance with global, African, and Southern African regional commitments to attain gender equality. The submission provides key recommendations on key areas including:

• Equality and non-discrimination
• Standalone provisions on women’s rights
• Political participation
• Citizenship
• Protection from violence
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
• Marriage and family life
• Economic participation, property, inheritance, and land tenure
• Gender equality machineries and
• Domestication and implementation of international commitments

This submission draws its inspiration from three academies on Women’s Political Participation led by Gender Links convened in Botswana between 2021 and 2022. The academies were supported by the Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa under the International Idea (II) led Enhancing the Inclusion of Women in Political Participation in Africa project. The academies brought together serving and aspiring women politicians from all political parties (local and national) for capacity building and cross generation dialogues on women’s equal and effective participation in decision-making.

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution of Botswana or Dibotelo Commission, is tasked with identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the Constitution; assessing its adequacy including the promotion of equality; and making recommendations to the President by September 2022.

For further information, contact Chigedze Chinyepi, Gender Links Botswana and SADC Liaison Director on 26772269357 or email wppbotswana@genderlinks.org.za.