The Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) joins the nation in mourning the death of civil society and gender activist, Mme Ruth Motsete, who died in Gaborone on November 29 2008.

Ruth Motsete contributed greatly to the struggle for gender equity in Botswana.

She has over the years worked with the Gender and Development Sector of BOCONGO and many organisations, among others Botswana Council of Churches, Emang Basadi and the Women's Coalition.

Motsete was also an author, public speaker and community builder. Her passion for a just, caring and equitable nation was significantly felt in the life and work of the civil society movement and the nation at large.

She contributed, in partnership with some government departments like the Department of Women's Affairs, to the development of the Gender Protocol.

Her humble contribution will go a long way in changing this country toward a culture of gender equitable attitudes, behaviours, practices and legislation.

In paying tribute to her as civil society organizations, we call on the Botswana government to follow other SADC countries and sign the Gender Protocol.