14 Mar 2017

Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS, (BONELA) is alarmed by the increased number of child abuse and violence case being reported, some of which have led to the loss of lives like the Palapye and Mogoditshane cases.

A press release from BONELA states that the incidences  go against Section 61 (1) of the Children’s Act, which states that ‘No person shall subject a child to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment’.

It says that these cases indicate that the public is not educated on the children’s rights and that the public in general is not taking responsibility to report such cases as prescribed by Section 43 (1) of the Children’s Act 2009, which states that ‘Where any person has reasonable cause to believe that a child is in need of protection, that person shall immediately make a report to a Social Worker or Police Officer in the district in which the child is resident.

It further says BONELA believes government (through social workers, the police, the Directorate of Public Prosecution and judges) is not doing enough in instances where these cases are reported because they take long to be prosecuted, creating a barrier to justice as outlined in the Children’s Act of 2009, which was enacted to ‘provide and protect the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of children’.

Therefore the release says BONELA challenges government to be responsive on children’s rights issues and convict perpetrators.

“We are also calling on the general public to be vigilant and responsive on these matters by reporting the incidents to the relevant authorities.” ENDS