Africa-Press – Botswana. Good Hope Mmathethe District is facing a disturbing trend of high numbers of sexual offences against children, says council chairperson Mr Daniel Nkwane during a full council session on Monday.
Mr Nkwane said that the social and community development recorded 59 cases of sexual abuse against children in the recent quarter.
The breakdown includes 15 cases of rape, one attempted rape, and 43 cases of defilement.
In response, the district has taken a step by convening its first-ever conference involving key stakeholders in child welfare.
The meeting brought together social workers, police officers, and legal professionals to collaborate on strategies to combat and address these violations.
Council officials emphasised the importance of a united approach to safeguard children and prevent further incidents of abuse.
“The purpose of the conference was to update each other on case status in the district, share experiences and challenges and map the way forward towards improving case management”, said Mr Nkwane.
The chairperson said that just like the rest of the country, the district was struggling with the scourge of gender-based violence.
He urged councillors and the district leadership to rally constituents to unite and stand against GBV..
Mr Nkwane said gender office in partnership with Minister’s Fraternal also launched a week of prayer against GBV across schools and government departments.
He said the initiative emphasised the need for collective spiritual action to address GBV, which had significant social and economic impact, particularly affecting women and children.
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