04 Dec 2018

Skillshare International Botswana director, Ms Tiny Healy, says child abuse and rights violation have become rife especially on children living with disabilities and orphans.

Speaking during International Children’s Rights Day in Nata recently, Ms Healy stated that it was important to treasure children and encourage them to lead fruitful lives.

She said it was vital to improve children’s rights through protecting them against different forms of abuse and teaching them how to report such incidents.

She said some children were exposed to abuse or discrimination based on their colour, gender and disabilities therefore such incidents, should be reported. She said some parents abused children’s rights to life by threatening to kill them whenever they made mistakes.

Ms Healy explained that the dress code for the event was light blue, which represented peace and calms emotions, feelings, adding that the colour also expressed trust, honesty and believe.

“When children see elders they see believe,” she said, adding that elders should not use that to their advantage to abuse and violate children’s rights.

North East District education director, Mr Mabunga Gadibolae said the United Nations Universal Children’s Day was established in 1954 to honour and promote the welfare of the world children and universally the day was celebrated to promote international togetherness and awareness among children.

He stated that the day was aimed at protecting children from working long hours in dangerous circumstances and allowing access to rightful child friendly educational institutions and facilities.

Mr Gadibolae said the day was dedicated to bringing awareness to children who succumbed to violence in the form of exploitation, abuse and discrimination to help the keepers of tomorrow  to take responsibility to save life, environment and the country at large.

Nata police assistant station commander, Assistant Superintendent Phetogo Phillimon, stated that abuse persisted because some parents were reluctant to report such incidents.  He said some parents neglected children who ended up going to bars and clubs where they were exposed to abuse and violation, adding that in 2017, they recorded three rape cases on children and in 2018 they recorded two such cases.

He said they recorded 22 assault cases in 2017 and this year there were eight cases, adding it was up to parents to protect children as well as children standing for their rights by reporting to social workers, village leaders and police officers.   

Nata magistrate, Ms Galaletsang Ramokate, explained that every Motswana had a right to report violence and abuse of children happening around them as ignoring such incidents was against the law and punishable by a fine of up to P10 000.

She said some parents convince children to withdraw abuse and defilement cases, revealing that nowadays some cases would not be withdrawn depending on the gravity of the offence committed.

Ms Ramokate said court was a place of evidence thus parents, teachers and police officers must gather all required evidence to help fight child abuse and violationShe said some cases were withdrawn due to lack of evidence.

Kgosi Rebagamang Rancholo of Nata said some parents did not want their children to have access to education because they also did not go to school.

He said the future of every child was based on education and encouraged children to report parents who violated their rights. ENDS