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The United Nations in Botswana has signed a Joint Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response Programme with the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs (MYGA), a bold step to end violence and protect every citizen. Gender-based violence remains a harsh reality, with 1 in 3 women in Botswana having experienced violence in their lifetime. This programme is a clear commitment to changing that reality, for good.Built on a strong four-pillar approach, the programme will focus on:Strengthening laws, policies, and institutionsPrevention at community levelSurvivor-centered response servicesSupporting civil society and women’s movementsThis is not a journey for government alone. It is a whole-of-society effort, bringing together government, development partners, civil society, private sector, academia, and communities to drive meaningful, lasting change. Speaking at the forum, UN Resident Coordinator Ms Wenyan Yang commended MYGA and the Government of Botswana for their continued efforts in advancing gender equality and combating GBV. She said the statistics serve as a stark reminder that GBV remains a reality affecting families and communities, undermining dignity and perpetuating inequality.Ms Yang noted that the forum reflects a shared recognition that GBV is a significant barrier to sustainable development. She reaffirmed the United Nations' commitment to supporting Botswana's efforts to address GBV, describing the fight against violence as a moral imperative.She further emphasized that partnerships are a cornerstone of meaningful change. Given the complex and multidimensional nature of GBV, she said collaboration among government institutions, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, and survivors is essential. She added that the UN will continue to support both GBV prevention initiatives and survivor assistance programmes.Ms Yang also called for increased investment in community-level prevention efforts, addressing the root causes of GBV, and strengthening data collection systems to inform interventions.For her part, Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Hon. Lesego Chombo, expressed appreciation to development partners, including the United Nations, diplomatic missions, and international organisations, for their continued support in advancing gender equality and combating GBV.She highlighted key achievements realized through collaborative programmes over the years, including the development of national GBV strategies, the establishment of specialised GBV courts, economic empowerment initiatives for women, and the creation of the Gender and Child Protection Branch within the Botswana Police Service.Hon. Chombo acknowledged that GBV remains a major challenge in Botswana, revealing that police records for the first quarter of 2026 indicate that 1,517 cases were reported, including murder, rape, assault, and offences involving children.She reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening policies and legislation, enhancing survivor support services, expanding prevention programmes, improving data collection, promoting women's economic empowerment, and engaging men and boys as champions of GBV prevention and response.Representatives from the Delegation of the European Union to Botswana and SADC, Debswana, and the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) also shared their perspectives. They unanimously agreed that strengthened community awareness, greater attention to the mental health needs of both survivors and perpetrators, enhanced support services, and a united approach to treating GBV as the national crisis it is, will all help in this fight.