The Mission of WAR is to promote gender equality, prevent and respond to gender based violence through public education, advocacy, research, and survivor support.

Issues

Violence

WHO defines violence as the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against the group or community, which either result in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, mal-development, or deprivation. The causes of violence are complex and occur at different levels of society.

The ecological / social ecological model is often used to represent this complexity and to study the occurance of violence.

We address all types of abuse, such as rape, defilement, incest, domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, marital problems, child welfare issues and any problems one may experience.

HIV and AIDS

HIV and AIDS is a national concern and WAR is committed to making a contribution to the fight against this scourge. Violence against women is both a cause and consequence of HIV and AIDS.

When girls and women lack power in their relationships, families and communities they are more valnerable to violence and more valnerable to HIV and AIDS.

Women in Poverty

Poverty and gender inequality are still a challenge to most women in our society and they play a significant role in their abuse. WAR has an Economic Empowerment Program for women. This program is meant to empower women with economic skills to reduce their dependency on men.Skills offered are batick, sewing, paper mache, jewellery making, and baking.

Defilement

According to Section 147of the Penal Code, Defilement is the unlawfully and carnal knowledge of any child under the age of 16 years. A child below the age of 16 is unable to make informed decisions on sexual matters.

Defilement is one of the concerning issues in Botswana. Women Against Rape with the help of Freedom house conducted a study on “COMMUNITY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF HOW DEFILEMENT IS ADDRESSED THROUGH COMMON AND CUSTOMARY LAW: A CASE OF THE NORTH-WEST DISTRICT OF BOTSWANA.” follow the link to read more.

"Mozwane"

“Mozwane” is a practice where some students save money that they get from their parents for transport and food and later they buy alcohol and drugs.

Student group themselves to buy alcohol and drugs,hire a combi/taxi to drive them to a spot of their choice where they would spend their time drinking,taking drugs and engaging in sexual activities.