12 Aug 2022

Batswana have been challenged to be actively involved in the fight against the country’s worsening child abuse situation because it was detrimental to the entire nation.

First Lady Neo Masisi told attendants of the Eseng Mo Ngwaneng campaign, relaunch in Shakawe Wednesday that abuse of children bred a wounded nation.

“Children witness murder of their family members, some witness gruesome physical abuse of family members and some are expected to parent other children,” she said.

Calling on people to break the silence about domestic violence which included mainly abuse of children and women, Ms Masisi stressed that ending the scourge required collective efforts at both national and community level to name, shame and report perpetrators.

“Domestic violence of any form including abuse of children deprive victims of their dignity, mental health and privacy,” said Ms Masisi.

She said the campaign, which promoted speaking against child abuse and also aimed at challenging cultural practices and norms that perpetuated it, was initially launched in 2018.

 The relentless rise in the incidence of child abuse, especially during the COVID-19 era, had necessitated its relaunch, she stated.

Ms Masisi said it was worrisome that most perpetrators of abuse were family members and guardians who were supposed to protect children.

Quoting a 2018 survey on violence against children, she said among those aged 13-17 years, 25 per cent of females and 4.6 per cent of males experienced unwanted sex on their first sexual experience.

Speaking at the same event, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Mabuse Pule observed that the issue of child abuse was wide and needed a multifaceted approach.

Mr Pule said one of the challenges identified was failure to implement some laws.

The ministry was working on changing the status quo, he said.

The assistant minister revealed that the Social Protection Department was undergoing transformation to help fight against abuse.

In her remarks, UNICEF representative, Dr Joan Matji explained that the Eseng Mo Ngwaneng campaign was a collaboration between UNICEF and government.

She said the heightening  child abuse situation in Botswana prompted  UNICEF to engage the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Botswana Police Service and First Lady as champions for the campaign’s relaunch

Dr Matji said to achieve zero violence required concerted efforts. ends