21 Nov 2017

UNICEF Advocacy champion, Mr Peter Siele has challenged political parties to organise political rallies with themes about issues that affect children to show their support for their rights.

Speaking at the World Children’s Day commemoration on November 18, Mr Siele said children were a part of the human resource of any country and they should be molded to become better people for the future.

He said political parties should therefore heed the opinions expressed by the children on matters that concerned them such as child abuse, molestation and lack of parental support and take those as a challenge of what was expected of them on what to do to ensure that their rights were protected.

“Political parties should be able to speak out on matters concerning children’s rights without fear or favour if they want to build this country and its future for the future of this nation lies entirely on these children,” Mr Siele said.

For her part, director of Social Protection, Ms Ruth Radibe said the Convention of the Children’s Right was a body recognised constitutionally because it was in the Children’s Act of 2009. 

She said the platform allowed child participation on several issues concerning them so that when responsible parties planned policies for them, their voices could be heard.

President of the Children Consultative Forum, Cantona Bolokang has expressed their wishes as children to have representatives that would stand up for them and ensure that their rights as children were considered.

He cited, among other things, inclusive education for all children to be a priority for every child living in Botswana, especially those who live in undeveloped areas. 

He called on government to bridge the gap between education offered in the urban and rural areas to ensure that every child got a fair chance to education.  

The convention on the human rights of the child is the first instrument to incorporate the complete range of international human rights. 

The World Children’s Rights Day commemoration saw representatives from the Botswana Democratic Party, Botswana Congress Party, Botswana Movement for Democracy, Botswana National Front and Alliance for Progressives in attendance. ENDS