28 Oct 2026

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, Dr Kimanzi Muthengi has called for comprehensive child protection legislative reforms.

He said the laws in Botswana must be clear, consistent and responsive to the evolving realities faced by children.

Speaking at a high-level workshop on the review of legislation related to children in Botswana in Tlokweng on Tuesday, Dr Muthengi outlined key priorities for legislative reform emphasising that effective laws must support families, enhance access to justice and address emerging risks facing young people.

He cited international examples, including Kenya’s Children Act of 2022, which strengthened family-based alternative care and Brazil’s 2025 Digital Statute, which established regulatory frameworks for digital service providers to protect children online.

Dr Muthengi highlighted that violence against children undermined national prosperity by damaging health, disrupting education, and weakening mental well-being throughout adulthood.

Referencing global estimates by UNICEF, Dr Muthengi revealed that approximately two in three children worldwide amounting to 1.6 billion experienced violent discipline at home including physical punishment and psychological aggression.

He further pointed to Botswana’s national survey on violence against children, which revealed that 43 per cent of young men and 28 per cent of young women aged 18 to 24 experienced physical violence before reaching the age of 18.

To address these challenges, Dr Muthengi presented five priority areas for reform beginning with the need to establish a single, consistent legal framework under the principle of “one child, one law,” which included an explicit prohibition of corporal punishment coupled with positive discipline support for families and schools.

Dr Muthengi noted that the proposed reforms align with Botswana’s National Plan of Action, which aims to reduce violence against children by 50 per cent by 2030, as well as the continental commitments adopted by African Union ministers. ENDS