15 Nov 2021

The Kanye District Child Protection Committee has been advised to consolidate children and Gender Based Violence (GBV) issues and escalate them to the Kanye Administrative Authority (KAA) for assistance.

Speaking at the closing of a three-day District Child Protection Committee workshop  KAA Assistant District Commissioner, Mr Balume Bulayani said that the district leadership had potential to influence change in advocating for matters affecting the committee and ending GBV.

“Do not despair, collaborate and remain hopeful in your quest to tackling issues pertaining to children. That way we shall overcome all our challenges,”Mr Bulayani said. 

He also said to end violence against children, there was need for cooperation by all stakeholders, including their capacitation to create an effective committee that would tackle the needs of caregivers, orphans and the vulnerable persons in the district.

He assured them that the village leadership remained committed to assist in ending violence against children.

Mr Bulayani urged participants to strive to strengthen their relationship with other stakeholders in order to achieve their mandate.

Participants had decried lack of promptness in responding to children protection cases, adding that children were still marginalised at customary courts and their rights were being compromised.

They pleaded that consideration should be made to promote access at clinics and customary courts for the marginalised people.

Participants commended government for efforts in addressing child violation cases. However they pointed out that more should be done as currently children were not accorded special treatment in courts but rather assisted just as the rest of the people leading to longer legal processes.

For his part, Marang Child Care Network Trust director, Ms Kgomotso Sejoe said there was need to strengthen efforts promoting child protection in the district. She also advised that collaboration and forging partnerships with other stakeholders could boost efforts designed to secure the wellbeing of children and promote their rights.

Ms Sejoe said the forum started in 2019 in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, but the sessions were since halted as a result of COVID-19.

She indicated the workshop was organised in line with section 34 of the Children’s Act of 2009, which aimed at providing meaningful opportunities for the children of Botswana and influencing key processes that affect them.

The workshop expressed views and opinions of children in relation to the issues that they experience first-hand in the district and make recommendations to the national council, she said.

Ms Sejoe also noted that the setup was also in line with the African Union Agenda 2063, turn aspirations which call for Africa whose development is people driven, relying on the potential offered by African people, especially its women, youth and caring for children.

She also attributed the move to the United Nations 2030 sustainable global goal, which aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prospering for everyone, where all the countries, including Botswana had promised to stand against abuse and exploitation.

Ms Sejoe thanked the committee for their desire to make a difference and advised members to familiarize themselves with the district plans.

Other pertinent matters discussed included lack of practice to utilise the standard operating procedures,lack of resources that hinder progress, and unclear lines of communication between Social and Community Development, Secretariat and National Children’s Council. ENDS