Civil Registration

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.

This service registers citizens aged 16 years and above and issues them with a National Identity Document (Omang). The Omang Card is used as a form of identity and for accessing services.

This service allows citizens of Botswana to change their official name, as registered in the Civil and National Registry.

This service allows citizens of Botswana to change their official name, as registered in the Civil and National Registry.