01 Feb 2017

The objectives of 50 Minutes for Children Campaign are to inspire the general public to be more accountable to promotion and protection of children’s rights and to mobilise investment in children from individuals, private sector, government and international partners.

Speaking during the 50 Minutes for Children Campaign closing ceremony, UNICEF country representative, Ms Julianna Lindsey said the outcomes of the campaign include improved public participation on promotion and protection of children together with improved private sector engagement on the situation of children in Botswana.

She further said individuals were requested to carry out their 50 minutes initiatives, share them on social media platforms and nominate the next person to do the same.

Ms Lindsey highlighted that it was driven through digital media platform to elicit societal involvement.

Ms Lindsey noted that the campaign reached over 8 000 children who benefitted directly from various activities driven by individuals and institutions, improved understanding on the concept of child rights especially in rural areas.

A lot of people, she said were willing to invest time and resources in improving the lives of children in Botswana and the current and the former presidents and some cabinet members participated in the campaign.

She noted that different initiatives were undertaken by social clubs, corporate entities, churches, embassies and ordinary community members, academic institutions, political and traditional leaders.

She said the initiatives ranged from sporting activities, mentoring sessions, traditional games, promoting literacy for school going children, job shadowing, environmental educational forums, donation of educational and health equipment and other activities across the country. She said  the campaign had proved that Batswana had interest in promotion and protection of children’s rights.

“We have learnt a lot from the 50 minutes and intend to adopt the same concept in generating dialogues around issues such as sexual exploitation and abuse of children”. “In fact, our focus for 2017 will be around sexual exploitation with a broader involvement of major segment of the society such as Dikgosi, religious leaders, politicians, government agencies, CSO,media and private sector.

For her part, child protection officer, Ms Gomotsanang Manne  said child protection continue to be a priority in Botswana and there was a child protection act. BOPA