Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs

Still under Review.

Women generally carry heavier economic and social burdens then men when it comes to HIV/AIDS. Due to historical and cultural factors, women tend to be the caregivers for both the sick and those who have been orphaned by the epidemic. Additionally, women who are living with HIV/AIDS often suffer two types of discrimination. First, there is discrimination based on their gender, and second, there is discrimination based on them being a Person Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Thus, the issue of gender equality deserves special attention. Gender inequality, no doubt, leads to the spread of HIV/AIDS because it both reduces a woman’s control over her life, and increases her vulnerability to HIV infection [UNDP Bots Report, p.14]. Thus, systemic gender inequality is a major factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The right to gender equality means that all forms of discrimination based on gender should be prohibited. In the context of HIV/AIDS, it means the following:

• Access to health care.
• Equality before the law.
• Modification of cultural and traditional practices that disadvantage women.
• Concrete measures should be taken to ensure the respect of women’s autonomy regarding issues such as control of both sexuality and sexual activity.

In Botswana, women are overrepresented in both the general population and the working poor. A higher proportion of female-headed households are “poor” or “very poor” than male-headed households, with rates of 50 percent and 44 percent, respectively. In 2008, women occupied 37 percent of public service positions involving decisions, which was an improvement from the 2002 Gender Disaggregated Data Report that identified that only 30 percent of the civil service decision makes were female. Since the public and private sector are connected, a lack of advancement of women in the public sector indicates a lack of advancement of women in the private sector as well.

It could be concluded that the male domination of decision-making positions in Botswana is a hindrance to the advancement of women. It could further be concluded that national decisions are made with minimal influence from women. Since women constitute most of the Botswana population, a situation similar in other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, this means that national decisions are made by a segment that represents less than half of the country’s population.

Botswana is a signatory to several declarations that commit the country to placing women into decision-making positions. This desired percentage representation of women into decision-making positions could be achieved through reshuffling current positions such that women are posted into said positions. This would make an impact that would eventually facilitate a change towards achieving gender equality.

The Department of Gender Affairs is mandated to facilitate the mainstreaming of gender issues in the development process.

In the past decade, women’s Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and groups, have been active players in the social and economic development of Botswana. Following the United Nation’s (UN) Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, the need to empower women for their advancement in all spheres of development was identified. A major priority was the need for enough financial and human resources for the advancement of women.

As a way of empowering women’s NGOs, CBOs, and groups, the Government of Botswana allocates funds to the Department of Gender Affairs annually with the intention of assisting these organizations. The Department of Gender Affairs then helps women’s organizations and groups that are promoting gender issues, particularly those in line with areas of concern adopted by the Government of Botswana during the 1995 UN Forth World Conference on Women.

These priorities include:

•  Women and poverty, including economic empowerment.
•  Women in power and decision-making positions.
•  Education and training of women.
•  Women and health.
•  Violence against women, including women’s human rights.
•  The girl-child.

For the Government of Botswana to continue to provide financial support to women’s NGOs, CBOs and groups, a framework regarding the relationship between the Department of Gender Affairs and its beneficiaries was developed.

The “Policy Guideline for Financial Support for Women” seeks to strengthen administrative procedures and enhance both the efficiency and the effectiveness of the Department of Gender Affair’s support to women’s NGOs, CBOs, and groups.

The Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme is an initiative to help groups of women obtain seed money to start their own income generating projects. This grant also accommodate groups that include both women and men.

The visitor’s visa is issued to people visiting Botswana for the following reasons:

1. Visiting friends or relatives.
2. For the visa to remain valid, the applicant must not work for, provide services or sell goods to businesses or the public in Botswana. The visa is valid up to 2 years for dependents of resident.