Africa-Press – Botswana. More child friendly courts are needed around the country to ensure that all cases involving children are sufficiently and expeditiously dealt with to reduce trauma on children.
Speaking during the Child-Friendly Justice System symposium in Gaborone on August 2, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Mabuse Pule said Botswana was doing its best to enact laws that protect all children’s rights, as a signatory of both the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
He pointed out that the two instruments have been domesticated through the Children’s Act of 2009, thereby charging Botswana with the responsibility of ensuring that services subscribed to the principles of the ‘best interest of child, non-discrimination, child survival and development as well as child participation’.
Mr Pule said his ministry had noted with concern the escalating numbers of cases of gender-based violence (GBV) and child sexual exploitation as well as abuse that left children traumatised and distressed, adding that although some courts were selected and turned into child-friendly courts, they were not enough.
“Our children are either witnesses or direct victims of these cruel and uncivilised deeds, and some have been turned into orphans,” he said.
Mr Mabuse pointed out that it was disappointing that some children fell prey to abusers in the home environment, where a known member of the family turns out to be a monster to the child.
He reiterated that homes were supposed to be safe spaces for children.
He said according to statistics reported by the social workers, as at July 2023, the number of defilement cases stood at 3 005, child abuse cases were 2 005, children in need of protection stood at 1 016, and GBV cases were 750.
He pointed out that the statistics reveal reported cases, adding that the number was probably higher, especially that most cases went unreported.
Mr Pule said though Batswana used to have a culture of communal responsibility and mutual support, that way of life was slowly dying away as portrayed by the increasing incidents of child neglect, family dysfunction and increased exposure to violence.
He said in the spirit of providing necessary support for the child and caregivers, local level support structures had been established.
He highlighted that currently, 320 village child protection committees had been established around the country to educate communities about neglect, ill treatment, exploitation and other forms of abuse of children, as well as monitor the welfare of children in their respective communities.
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