Live Gender Equality-do away with Gender based violence

Sum up the situation of the Council – how far has it come, how far has it progressed, what evidence is there of change. If possible begin with an anecdote that demonstrates this change. - 300 words In 2010, Jwaneng Town Council Management and the political wing was taken on board on gender issues by Gender links and Botswana Association of Local Authorities. By then the Council was not conversant with gender issues. After Council orientation workshop held on 2010 for Councillors and Management, the council then came up with Jwaneng Town Council Gender Action plan. The plan has not yet been signed and adopted by the Council but the Council Management has revisited it to rectify issues pertaining to restructuring of the council services (Clinics moving to Ministry of Health and Water and Waste Water Management moving to Water Utilities Corporation). The plan was to be presented at the Education Health and Social Services Committee, but it has been postponed, instead be cascaded to the councillors as some of them are newly elected. Though the plan has not yet been signed and adopted, the council has elected a Gender Committee comprised of focal persons from different departments. The committee has drawn the Terms of Reference to guide their operations and so far Gender issues have been cascade to their departments. Also issues which did not involve monetary aspects were carried out. The council has a gender champion who is a male and links the Committee with the Management regarding their plan and activities. It has conducted various activities to sensitise the community on gender issues especially that fight gender based violence (for example district pitso themed eliminating gender based violence, on the 26th March 2015. The council management took the initiative in organising the event activities. The council has appointed gender focal person who is responsible for ensuring that gender based activities are implemented. Since the implementation Gender plan in 2011, there was no budgetary allocation for gender activities, but during financial year 2014/15 an allocation amounting P28000.00 was done through Social and Community Development Department.