News

University of Botswana (UB) Department of Health Sciences joined forces with the Tlokweng community in a spirited campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on the 25th of April 2025. The awareness event, held in Tlokweng village, aimed at educating the public on the root causes and consequences of GBV while promoting respect, equality and the creation of safer communities.

In his keynote address, Tlokweng Police Station Commander, Superintendent Baboneng Modiegi, underscored the severity and multifaceted nature of GBV. He explained that GBV included physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic abuse and often stemmed from deep-seated gender inequalities. Forms of GBV, he noted, ranged from domestic violence and sexual assault to harassment and harmful traditional practices such as forced marriage.

Superintendent Modiegi also highlighted common indicators of GBV, including sudden behavioural changes, anger, low self-confidence and a shift in appearance or self-esteem. He revealed that Tlokweng recorded 329 assault cases related to GBV in 2023 with a slight decrease to 229 cases in 2024 - an indication of progress, though more work remains.

Speaking at the same event, Acting Tlokweng Tribal Chief, Mr Kesebone Matsete, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the University of Botswana and all partners involved. He commended the initiative for shedding light on the underlying causes of GBV and for empowering the community with knowledge to prevent and respond to abuse.