…shelter to act as a safe haven for survivors of GBV
A new safe haven for men, women and girls who survived gender-based violence has officially been launched in Maun operating under the name, ‘Basket of Love’ shelter.
Situated at Thito Ward, the shelter was recently opened under the theme “stronger together- a collaborative path to safety” with the event attracting various stakeholders from both the private and public sectors to emphasize the importance of collaboration. The shelter was established in April 2013 and fully registered in 2017 to combat gender-based violence from a community and family perspective.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Nelson Ramaotwana highlighted that theme of the launch was befitting as GBV cannot be ended in silos.
“No ministry, no organisation, no single voice can do it alone. It is only together as government, civil society, private sector, and community that we can build a Botswana where women and children are truly safe,” the minister said.
He said the shelter is a path to safety, a place where healing begins, where voices are restored, and where fear is replaced with protection. Ramaotwana added that the opening of the facility is proof of what is possible when stakeholders come together.
He further made commitments to survivors who may one day call the shelter home, stating that they are working to formally recognize shelters as critical justice infrastructure not charity but a necessity. This recognition will open the door for state resourcing, referral pathways, and legal partnerships.
The minister further mentioned that they will deploy trained legal officers to the shelters, ensuring that survivors can apply for protection orders, report violations, and begin legal processes right there. He added that they are also developing a shelter to court protocol, where reports from shelters are prioritized and survivors are not re-traumatized by being shuffled between departments.
For his part, the Executive Director for Basket of Love’ shelter, Dickson Samaemo explained that their mandate is to provide psycho-social support to families, counseling services, nutritional and educational support to pregnant girls and teenage mothers. He said the idea is to also strengthen the bond between families by highlighting the role of each family member and ways to minimize conflict.
Samaemo also indicated that they are driven by a deep commitment to human dignity and equity, the mission to spread love and restore hope to those in need.
