Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs' Expression of Concern about the "BILLBOARD" Cartoon appearing in the 16/3/09 edition of the Monitor Newspaper

source: Republic of Botswana (23/3/09): TAUTONA TIMES no 8 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

C7) 18/3/09: Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs' Expression of Concern about the "BILLBOARD" Cartoon appearing in the 16/3/09 edition of the Monitor Newspaper:

Botswana has made significant progress on matters relating to gender equality and in educating Batswana on matters relating to domestic violence including sexual violence and abuse. We therefore believe all stakeholders including the media should carry this message forward. It is in this context that the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs would like to raise a concern with the management of the Monitor newspaper regarding the cartoon - BILLBOARD that appeared on page 6 of Monitor, published Monday 16/03/2009.

The Ministry found the cartoon to be offensive and demeaning to women. As the Ministry responsible for gender issues and upliftment of the status of women in Botswana, we found the cartoon to be profiling and stereotyping women sexually and as objects of sexual abuse and
harassment which defeats the national efforts in raising the status of women in the country and in achieving gender equality and mutual respect between men and women.

The Ministry would like to put it forward to you that we totally object to the cartoon as it depicts women as objects of amour. The picture is sending wrong messages to readers who obviously may have different interpretations and understanding to it. Women should be seen as partners in development as opposed to objects of sexual humiliations. We therefore strongly advise the newspaper to always exercise professional integrity and evaluate the negative impact of the pictorial messages posted through the BILLBOARD.