05 Jul 2018

Childline Botswana in partnership with Orange Botswana have launched a helpline that will help children report cases of abuse.

In a press briefing in Gaborone on July 4, Childline board chairperson, Ms Wilhemina Makwinja said children went through  a lot of violence on a daily basis hence the need to address the problem.

The helpline, she said would enable children to report cases of all forms of abuse at no cost. “Some lives are lost due to violence and we compliment the government for the role it plays in fighting abuse of vulnerable people in society especially children and women,” she said.

Ms Makwinja noted that the department of social protection was trying its level best to protect children.

Furthermore, she noted that Childline was concerned about child negligence and compromised children’s rights.

She said incest has manifested itself in different ways as it affects both the girl and boy child, adding that with the help of the police and courts, these incidents would come to an end.

For her part, Ms Boga Chilinde-Masebu, Orange public relations and foundation manager said the launch of the 24-hour service helpline would help children report cases of abuse as 90 per cent of the population had mobile phones.

Ms Chilinde-Masebu highlighted that this would also make it easy for Childline and other stakeholders to collect data about abuse cases, which would enable them to make relevant policies.

“Orange Botswana will continue to work with different stakeholders to protect children’s rights and empower them. ENDS