WASBO INTRODUCES SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
Women and Sport Botswana (WASBO) recently concluded a sexual harassment and gender-based violence policy for sport in Botswana.
WASBO Secretary General, Keenese KatisengeTizhani, told an Ordinary General Meeting over the weekend that the policy has been submitted to the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) to distribute it to the National Association, Clubs and Sport Commission.
Katisenge-tizhani said the policy was meant to safeguard athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, sport psychologists, officials, sport information personnel, administrators and volunteers of all sexes and gender identities in sport from unwanted sexual conduct. She said the policy would also provide guidelines and appropriate procedures on how to report incidents of sexual harassment and gender-based violence broadly.
“It will provide redress and support to sexual harassment and gender-based violence survivors and to prevent and combat all forms of gender-based violence in the sport fraternity. The policy will also act as a tool to combat sexual harassment and gender-based violence in sport. Any kind of genderbased violence and sexual ha
rassment is not acceptable in sport. The policy promotes a safe and conducive sport environment where there is mutual respect for all athletes, coaches, trainers, care takers, managers, volunteers, and staff.
All forms of violence are illegal under Botswana laws, and will not be tolerated within the WASBO,” said Katisenge-tizhani.
Botswana Football Association National Executive Committee Female Representative, Lobito Ncube, said this was a welcome development in sports. She said women were facing challenges of sexual harassment, which reduced their active participa
tion in sports. Ncube said the BFA embrace it and that they are going to make sure that all stakeholders and players are aware and have it.
“It will be in the public domain and our athletes and sports administrators will be aware of their rights and limitations. We are moving into a different dimension and sports now requires people to be more accountable. As we qualify for major international games, like WACON, we need these kinds of policies so that they guide us in the platforms we participate in, in case we encounter such challenges. We want our athletes to feel safer in sports,” said Ncube.