Africa-Press – Botswana. Service providers have been urged to create a national momentum around strengthening child-friendly justice in Botswana as part of the national commitment to end violence against children.
Officially opening the first ever National Child-friendly Justice Symposium in Gaborone on August 2, Minister of Justice, Mr Machana Shamukuni said access to effective justice remained an important matter in Botswana.
Mr Shamukuni said therefore government had prioritised reform of the justice sector in the National Development Plan 12 and the two-year Transitional National Development Plan, that was in line with the Children’s Act and government’s international obligations on the promotion and protection of children’s rights as well as key international children’s rights instruments.
He pointed out that it was important that when children encountered the justice system, ‘it must be an experience that protects and ensures that the children receive fair, expedient, age-appropriate justice centred on the rule of law.’
“The pillars of a child-friendly justice system are the foundation upon which we can build a world where every child’s rights and wellbeing are safe-guarded through the justice system,” he said.
Minister Shamukuni appealed to the Judiciary and the justice sector to expedite cases of violence against children and facilitate the establishment of child-friendly courts with the best interest of the child at the forefront.
He further urged the National Children’s Council, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to continue advocacy for the strengthening of child-friendly justice system.
Furthermore, he encouraged the academia and researchers to broaden and continue research on child-friendly justice system for informed decision-making in policy development as well as improve on the courses offered to extensively cover access to justice by children at all levels.
He implored the traditional leaders to find child-friendly interventions to deal with children’s issues presented at customary courts and to mediate in family matters that would ensure the children were safe.
Mr Shamukuni said it was also important to create a more conducive living environment that promoted safety, welleing and the protection of the rights of the children at home level.
“Let us not harbour abuse, but be forthcoming in seeking protection and promotion of our children’s rights,” he said.
“As we engage, let us together seize this opportunity to ignite change, to inspire and build a child-friendly justice system, # a re chencheng # e seng mo ngwaneng # a just Botswana,” said Mr Shamukuni.
He also appreciated the collaboration and support of UNICEF, the entire United Nations family, European Union and all other partners for their support to Botswana government for the reform of the justice sector.
The minister said the symposium offered a unique platform to deliberate on strategies for achieving universal access to justice by children as well as explore collaboration and partnerships with the different stakeholders and other development partners to contribute to Botswana’s national priorities and justice agenda.
He further said stakeholders and experts representing key ministries, academia, civil society, and development partners were to review and propose constructive solutions to addressing critical gaps for improving access to justice with particular emphasis on children.
“This includes referral mechanisms between service providers such as the judiciary, police, healthcare providers, education officials, social workers, prosecutors, lawyers and correctional service officers,” he said.
At the end of the symposium, he said, Botswana was expected to have a position paper that would guide on addressing access to justice by children.
The country was also expected to make recommendations on advancing child-friendly justice as a key strategy to end violence against children in Botswana, improved understanding of the gaps in Botswana’s child-friendly justice system, as well as strengthened partnerships at a regional and global levels as well as other UNICEF country offices with advanced child-friendly justice system for benchmarking purposes.
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