30 Aug 2020

In an effort to prevent further sexual exploitation and abuse, UNICEF Botswana has activated a joint emergency partnership with UNDP and Botswana Red Cross Society (BRCS).

Briefing the media in Gaborone, recently, UNDP programme specialist, Ms Natasha Hirschfeld said the aim was to reach children and caregivers in rural areas with context specific messages on prevention of COVID-19 and violence against children.

She explained that this was because rural areas often had limited access to mainstream media or experienced language barriers.

The partnership came into effect during the first lockdown to address issues of gender based violence especially on children, revealed Ms
Hirschfeld.

She said during the national lockdown, the country registered a spike in the number of child abuse cases.

Twenty-three defilement and 22 rape cases were registered within the first seven days of the lockdown, she said.

For her part, BRCS health coordinator Ms Neo Mogowa, said the main reason for partnering with the two parties was their distinctive approach to projects, which was community based.

Explaining the approach, she said it used volunteers from the same communities, spoke the local language and understood the community culture, religions and dynamics.

The message always hit home more when communities were used as the driving force and community leaders as the gateway, she said.

Ms Mogowa emphasised the importance of using people from the community to raise awareness saying they tended to understand the cultural norms, language, religion, practices, discourses and behaviours that worsened or reduced GBV.

She also said dialogue would influence decision makers at community level to promote protection of women and children.

In addition, Ms Mogowa said the partnership aimed at reaching 20 000 people in different districts, 11 000 of them children and the rest parents.

UNICEF communication development officer, Mr Joseph Segodi also stressed the need for  communities to be part of the process.

Change should come from them instead of it being imposed on them, he said.

He said UNICEF worked closely with the state and different partners to drive its mandate and support government in the optimal protection of children’s rights.

Mr Segodi commended the partnership saying it was important considering that COVID-19 had affected school children mentally and socially. ENDS