WOMEN AGAINST RAPE

Women Against Rape (WAR) is a human rights organisation. Since 1995, WAR has provided free, confidential and empowering support to survivors of gender-based violence (GBV).

For 27 years, WAR has been at the forefront of campaigning against GBV in Botswana. From a handful of women who wanted to “do something” about GBV, WAR has grown into a fully-fledged NGO with its own offices, full-time and parttime staff, and a shelter for survivors of violence. Recently (2020), WAR opened offices in Gumare, Shakawe and Seronga, providing much needed services to these more remote and underserved locations.

The primary focus of WAR is to meet the needs of traumatised survivors of GenderBased Violence (GBV). To this end, WAR provides free services which include: • 24 hour crisis helpline • Temporary safe accommodation, • Counselling • Formal referrals and guidance through the justice, health and welfare systems.

Alongside GBV survivor services, WAR promotes gender equality through advocacy and prevents GBV through raising awareness, education, and social mobilisation.

WAR conducts and facilitates research and the results feed into annual reviews of strategy, services and programmes.

EXAMPLES OF NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS: SURVIVORS’ SERVICES Dipolelo Girls Against GBV

Botswana has a long history of storytelling and Dipolelo is the first digital storytelling project about GBV. 7 young women GBV survivors tell their own stories in their own way for themselves. The stories are short, less than 5 minutes, and give us a glimpse of the effect of violence on an individual life. http://womenagainstrape.org. bw/dipolelo.html

PUBLIC EDUCATION: Expressing Experiences

Two books containing forty short stories written by adolescent girls aged 15-19 years attending secondary schools in Botswana. Story topics covered 4 themes: GBV; parent & child communication on sexual health and sexuality; HIV/ AIDS and treatment adherence and teenage pregnancy. http:// womenagainstrape. org. bw/ download%20book.html

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 16 Days of Activism against GBV

Every year, WAR participates in the Global campaign against GBV. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals, institutions and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

RESEARCH

Knowledge and understanding of defilement and customary and common law. Taking law to the people of the North West District of Botswana. http://womenagainstrape.org. bw/reports.html

This study assessed the knowledge and understanding of customary and common law practices concerning acts of defilement in the North West District of Botswana. Knowledge and understanding of defilement and its management is limited, nevertheless most respondents prefer the common law justice system over customary law and would prefer to report cases to the police for prosecution.

For more information about Women Against Rape visit our website www.womenagainstrape. org.bw, or contact us on 0267 686 0865, 0800 600 387 or email infor@womenagainstrape.org.bw.