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.
Role of the Family
The Minister also highlighted the critical role parents and guardians play in promoting gender equality from an early age. She noted that the home is often the first environment where children learn about fairness, responsibility and respect.
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.
Access to Justice
The Minister further highlighted that advancing access to justice for women and girls remains both a global and national priority.
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.
She noted that customary courts continue to play a significant role in addressing this gap, handling about 80 percent of disputes and providing more accessible and culturally familiar avenues for resolving community matters.
Addressing Systemic Barriers
The Minister also pointed to challenges identified in reports by the Centre for Human Rights, including geographical barriers that limit access to courts in remote areas and difficulties faced by vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities.
She further noted that while Botswana has achieved over 60 percent representation of women at the Magistrate level, women remain underrepresented at higher levels of the justice system where men still constitute around 80 percent.
Government, she said, is aware of these gaps and has begun implementing reforms aimed at strengthening access to justice.
Among the initiatives highlighted was the increased use of Information, Technology and Communication (ICT) to improve access to justice services and address the needs of vulnerable groups such as children and persons with disabilities.
In addition, the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services developed Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines in 2023 to guide institutions within the justice system in integrating gender considerations into their work.
Legal Aid and GBV Legislation
The Minister also spoke about government efforts to support indigent persons through legal aid services. She revealed that during the 2024/2025 financial year, 42.6 percent of legal aid beneficiaries were women, while 57.4 percent were men.
Although legal aid services are currently available in six major locations, mobile legal aid clinics are deployed to reach remote communities and ensure that rural populations, particularly women, are not left behind.
The Minister further announced that government began developing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) legislation in August 2025, aimed at consolidating existing legal provisions and addressing gaps that perpetuate GBV in Botswana.
She encouraged the public to actively participate in consultations once the legislative process begins.
Community Participation
Turning her attention to the people of Moshana, the Minister encouraged community members to contribute to the empowerment of women and girls through mentorship, support and sharing of skills.
She also expressed appreciation to development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector for their continued contribution to advancing gender equality and providing critical services to communities.
The Minister also called on men and boys to remain active partners in promoting equality and strengthening access to justice for women and girls.
She concluded by reaffirming government’s commitment to building a Botswana where every woman and girl can live free from discrimination and violence, participate fully in the economy and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“When women thrive, Botswana prospers,”