Feminist Alliance Botswana - FAB

10/06/2026

📢 Applications Now Open: Model Parliament Africa – Public Policy Labs
2026!

Are you passionate about governance, leadership, public policy, or civic
engagement? Join the Public Policy Labs, a 4-week civic learning
experience designed to help young people understand policies, laws,
strategies, and the Constitution in practical and engaging ways.

Through interactive sessions, participants will explore:
✅ How public systems work
✅ How citizens can influence decision-making
✅ How to communicate civic information effectively
✅ The role of young people in shaping Africa’s future

Who can apply?
🔹 Young people aged 18–35 years
🔹 Individuals interested in governance and civic issues
🔹 Applicants with access to a smartphone or laptop for virtual sessions

📅 Application Deadline: 15 June 2026

🔗 Apply here: https://forms.gle/FYN1zfLQ5GGHchWM7

Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your civic leadership skills
and become part of a growing network of young changemakers across
Africa.

10/06/2026

🌸 Nominate a Womxn for "60 Years of Her"

As part of the OPEN Feminist Fair 2026 theme, "60 Years of Her: Honouring Legacy, Building Futures," we are compiling a special publication celebrating 60 womxn whose lives, work, leadership, creativity, advocacy, care, and courage have shaped Botswana and its communities.

We invite nominations of womxn from all walks of life—known and unsung, past and present—whose contributions deserve recognition and remembrance. We are particularly interested in stories that reflect impact, resilience, innovation, community-building, and the many ways womxn contribute to our collective futures.

Whether she is a community organiser, entrepreneur, artist, educator, activist, caregiver, leader, professional, farmer, craftswomxn, student, or changemaker, we want to hear her story.

Nomination Deadline: June 30 2026
Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc6-eW8EZGJKOblOPZOTIjNCKd7qaBNN6swuzWjKu2Xa2rZIg/viewform?usp=dialog

Please complete the form with as much detail as possible. Selected profiles will be featured in the 60 Years of Her publication and related Feminist Fair activities.

Together, let's honour the womxn who have built, nurtured, resisted, created, and continue to shape Botswana. 💜

04/06/2026

Despite our deep-seated concerns and extensive feedback, the Ministry has decided to accede to and sign the Convention.

The Ministry's justification? That we "owe it to the women and girls that live in other countries where the laws don't even protect them at all," arguing that our non-accession would leave Botswana out of the conversation of amendments at a later stage.

While we acknowledge the spirit of pan-African solidarity, our position remains firm: Acceding to a convention with significant flaws, while our own national laws and mechanisms for combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) are still underdeveloped and inadequately implemented, is not the path forward.

Here's what we highlighted in the meeting and why our dissent continues:

Flawed Consultation Process: We expressed disappointment at not receiving prior feedback from the Ministry on our comprehensive recommendations. This would have allowed for a more meaningful dialogue, rather than reactive responses in a limited timeframe.

Lack of Transparency on National GBV Bill: We still have no clear information on the status or content of the proposed national GBV bill. How can we trust that stringent mechanisms will be in place when the process remains opaque?

Data Deficiencies: The Convention, in its current form, does not sufficiently emphasize data collection for programming and response. Domestically, we struggle with outdated and inaccessible data, making effective interventions challenging. We questioned what data protection mechanisms are embedded in the nascent national bill that would surpass current provisions.

Difficulty of Amendments: The suggestion that we "sign now and amend later" is problematic. As we know, amending international instruments is a protracted and difficult process, not a simple fix. We cannot gamble with the lives and safety of women and girls on the promise of future amendments.

Weaknesses in the Convention Itself: We argued that the AU CEVAWG, particularly when compared to more robust instruments like the Maputo Protocol or the comprehensive Model Law on Violence Against Women, contains substantial gaps. It risks allowing countries with weak legal frameworks (e.g., those permitting child marriages or FGM) to rubber-stamp inadequate protections under a continental umbrella.

We understand the urgency to act, but we cannot sacrifice robust, effective protection for the sake of speed. Our women and girls deserve more than empty promises and flawed frameworks. We will continue to advocate for a principled approach that genuinely safeguards the rights and lives of all womxn and girls in our nation.

04/06/2026

We are live at Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs BW attending the 3RD CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON THE AFRICAN UNION CONVENTION ON ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS (AU CEVAWG).

After presenting the position paper spearheaded by our chair Tlamelo Mmamohlakoana Mothudi-Chape and Molao Matters's Mona-Lisa Mungure on the 8 MAY 2026, the Ministry is having a discussion around the points raised by the few CSOs and Batswana womxn and girls who endorsed the paper.

It's not too late to join the dialogue and here is the link online; https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/349729425624489?p=C6CHTLDy8abruCU6eq

If you have not yet read the paper, please find it here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hIHlJ3Zpz3EM1bBR-QW9HJumFtYSUiJW

22/05/2026

L E R A T O F I L M S C R E E N I N G

On the 20th of May, Feminist Alliance Botswana, in partnership with Française de Gaborone, hosted the screening of Lerato , a powerful film project produced and filmed in 2025 to raise awareness about violence against womxn and to sensitize communities on the spectrum of violence experienced by women and marginalized groups.

As an advocacy tool, Lerato continues to be screened across different spaces to spark education, dialogue, and collective action around Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The event opened with remarks from Anne Charlotte Moneret, Director of Alliance Française de Gaborone, and Lulu Bolaane, member of Feminist Alliance Botswana and Lead of the Violence Against Women Working Group. We were also honoured to have a representative from a Bua Foundation, an organisation working on gender-based violence and social justice.

The screening was followed by a thought provoking panel discussion moderated by Lulu, featuring contributions from Wendile Laba (Director for Lerato, Women In Film Guild)and Bonno Balopi (member of Lerato film team, Feminist Alliance Botswana).

Wendile Laba reflected on the power of storytelling and representation within the film industry:

“One thing I love about storytelling is that representation does matter. That is one of the reasons why the WIF Guild exists, to create space for women to be represented within the film industry, to have a voice, and to tell stories while being at the forefront. The beautiful thing about filmmaking is that it brings people together. It taps into emotions and touches people in ways that create deep and meaningful connection.”

Bonno responded to a question on the absence of comprehensive GBV legislation and how projects like Lerato can influence change:

“What Lerato says at the end of the film is that she deserves justice and healing, and those things cannot happen in a vacuum. They cannot happen through willpower alone. Yes, she has agency, but she exists within a system where justice is inaccessible. How can she receive justice if the violence she experiences is not even named, recognised, or protected against in law? The reason this project was done was to push policy and change.”

We extend our gratitude to everyone who attended, contributed to the discussion, and continues to stand with us in the fight against violence and injustice. ✊🏾💜

20/05/2026

🎬✨ Feminist Alliance Botswana invites you to the screening of LERATO ✨🎬

Join us for an evening of powerful storytelling, reflection, and conversation as we present LERATO — a film that amplifies women’s voices, truths, and experiences through art and film.

🗓 20 May
🕔 Doors Open: 5PM
🎥 Screening Starts: 5:30PM
📍 Alliance Française, Plot 2939, Ext 10 (Opposite UB), Gaborone

The screening will be followed by a panel discussion and networking session.

💬 “Our stories. Our truth. Our power.”

This event is proudly hosted in partnership with:
🤝 Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Botswana
🤝 Women in Film Guild Botswana
🤝 Alliance Française Gaborone

⚠️ Registration is mandatory:
https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSebkeZOdnj9oi1AwoVxsQX-dvBjWB_Qtyw3ISQYABw3ia7P9A/viewform?usp=send_form

Come through for an evening that celebrates storytelling as a tool for dialogue, healing, and social change. 💜

08/05/2026

Today, Feminist Alliance Botswana officially submits our
comprehensive position paper on the AU CEVAWG to the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs BW! We are proud to present the collective voice of CSOs and individuals advocating for a stronger, more inclusive convention. 🇧🇼

Representing us is our chair Tlamelo Mmamohlakoana Mothudi-Chape and Molao Matters's and FAB member Mona-Lisa Mungure.

Send a message to learn more

06/05/2026

When Botswana talks about ratifying international agreements like the AU CEVAWG, it’s not just about signing on the dotted line. Ratification means we agree to be bound by the treaty — but that alone doesn’t make it law in our country. Because Botswana follows a dualist system, international treaties only become real and enforceable here once Parliament passes them into domestic law.

That’s why it’s so important that the process isn’t just top‑down. A more inclusive and participatory consultation, where everyday people, survivors, and communities share their lived experiences, would ensure the convention truly reflects the realities on the ground. Wide participation means wide impact.

06/05/2026

The deadline for comments and endorsements Wednesday 6th May 10h00, has come and gone, if you missed out you are still welcome to the read through and send in responses.

Please email FAB at [email protected] to submit your response in your personal capacity or in the capacity of your organization and kindly also add inform whether you wish to be added to the list of those endorsing it.

We are submitting the final document to the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs BW on 7th of May.

FYI you can find a copy of the state approved Convention online; thus this circulation is limited to the CSO draft.

https://lnkd.in/dQ5jxF5N

05/05/2026

Stand with us to end violence against women and girls.📢

The African Union (AU) Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG) is currently open for ratification by AU member states. On the 1st April, 2026 the Government of Botswana through the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs convened an online AU CEVAWG ratification Civil Society Organisation (CSO) consultation process. During this ratification consultation process, the participants highlighted procedural concerns with the CSO consultation process along with substantive gaps with the current draft of the AU CEVAWG. Expressing their support for the ratification of the AU CEVAWG, the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs extended the CSO consultation process, allowing CSOs until 8 May 2026 to submit written responses, and to later present these responses before Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs representatives.

Feminist Alliance Botswana (FAB) has drafted a collective CSO response to the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG). This document reflects the recommendations of civil society partners, and now we need your voice!

How to act:

Endorse: Support in your personal capacity or on behalf of your organization.

Review: This is a live draft meaning your comments are welcomed!Below is a link to the document for your review.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hIHlJ3Zpz3EM1bBR-QW9HJumFtYSUiJW

Deadline: Wednesday, May 6th @ 10:00 AM.

📧 Email [email protected] to submit your endorsement and let us know if you’d like to be added to the official list.