23 Nov 2015

The United Nations 26th Convention on the Rights of a Child anniversary on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) gives an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in protecting the rights of a child, says Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso.

Speaking at the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of a Child in Gaborone , Ms Tshireletso said it also allows to explore the opportunity presented by SDGs on ensuring that no child was left behind in the country’s development agenda.

She said Botswana could not be left behind in such a remarkable effort to empower the community and eradicate extreme poverty as this resonates well with the national priorities.

Ms Tshireletso noted that Botswana was among the countries that expressed their firm support for the 2030 Agenda and their strongest commitment to achieve the 17 SDGs at the UN general assembly that was held in September 2015.

She urged delegates to set their sight and matters more on reaching out to the children left behind in pursuit of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). She added that MDGs had inspired development efforts, which was an unprecedented and admirable feat.

“Their simplicity and measurability as well as their focus on human developments have helped the country to set national priorities, mobilise resources and focus actions that have benefited thousands of girls, boys and young adults in Botswana,” she said.

On the other hand, she said there was an unfinished agenda in terms of goals not yet achieved and major commitment in the millennium declaration not being fulfilled.
Ms Tshireletso said the lives and future of the most disadvantaged children matters for the sake of their families and communities.

She noted that relationship between children and sustainable development is symbiotic, adding that progress in the sustainable developments underpins their rights and well-being.
She said children’s rights and well-being underpin lasting and equitable development progress.

Ms Tshireletso said the accelerating drive for HIV-free future generation and UN AIDS move to zero infections and AIDS related deaths would be a further centerpiece of the efforts to finish the work of the MDGs.
She said child stunting, child hunger and child poverty were further major moral and development challenges that must be resolved by all societies beyond 2015.

As a country, she said they need to put specific measures for prioritising and accelerating progress for the poorest and most vulnerable children in the new agenda.
She said the fundamental building block for achieving a great future was an investment in the right of children regardless of their gender, ethnicity, race economic disability or other status . Ends