15 Dec 2021

In spite of structures, resources, laws, policies and programmes meant to protect children, they are still exposed to risks such as neglect, sexual abuse, child trafficking, drug and substance use and as other perils.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Mabuse Pule said this when officially opening the National Children’s Consultative Forum in Selebi Phikwe on Tuesday.

Such violations happened in homes, schools, churches and other places where children were supposed to be at their safest, hence mostly go unreported.

Mr Pule said the National Situational Analysis on Orphans and Vulnerable Children of 2019 further revealed that some orphans were still affected by poverty despite government providing monthly food rations and other necessities to them.

Further, he said some orphans did not have birth certificates, which made their registration for the national identity card difficult and limited their access to services.

He implored parents, policy makers, civil society and other stakeholders to ensure that every child was protected, nurtured and accorded opportunities so as to reach their full potential.

“Children are our future, we therefore have the responsibility to mentor, coach and guide them to be responsible citizens of this country, ready to take leadership roles as they mature into adulthood,” he said.

As a signatory to the African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the child, and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Botswana was obligated to abide by the treaties including all others that had a bearing in children’s welfare.

Mr Pule said the National Children’s Consultation Forum (NCCF) therefore validated the country’s duty to engage children in developing child sensitive programmes, laws and policies. He implored children to use the forum to sharpen their leadership skills as they advocated children’s rights.

He also urged them to participate actively in planning, policy-making and programming processes for children.

“You have a duty to empower yourselves and your peers with the knowledge and skills that you acquire on your leadership journey,” he said.

Selebi Phikwe Town Council Mayor Mr Lucas Modimana said the life and upbringing children was very important and had to be carried out diligently to mould them into well rounded individuals.

Children were the future of the nation and collective efforts should be made to nurture them economically and socially, adding that to date the country had managed to elect child representatives in all 16 districts.

The representatives managed to participate in activities geared towards promoting child participation, during which they called for child friendly health facilities, courts and overall protection of the children.

The representatives, he said, further challenged government to ensure that children were protected from violence, sexual exploitation and abuse.

He explained that Selebi Phikwe district went further to establish ward child protection committees to ensure that both community members and children contributed towards addressing issues affecting children.

He noted that hosting the forum was of benefit to the community as such forums created awareness, and enhanced understanding of children.

He reminded them of the national reset agenda, Vision 2036 and Millennium Development goals, adding they were important protocols to observe for a better future.

“We cannot afford to ignore these protocols, study them and make them the access of your deliberations during this summit,” he said.

The outgoing NCCF chairperson  Ms Annalisa Cruickshank thanked the outgoing NCCF members for their participation and encouraged them to share their knowledge with incoming members.

She encouraged children to be confident and speak out for themselves, adding that children had rights, which came with responsibilities.

Ms Cruickshank said many children failed to grab opportunities because of lack of confidence, and thus encouraged them to be confident in everything they did.

The NCCF was held to orientate the children on their mandate, and how they should work with district and national structures, as well as to elect the new chairperson and deputy chairperson. Ends