Tonota council chair bemoans child negligence

FRANCISTOWN: Tonota District Council (TDC) chairperson, Baemedi Medupi, has expressed anger about the alarming rate of sexual violence and wide-ranging criminal cases on children most notably girls.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the predominant and ubiquitous human rights violations in Botswana.

He was addressing a full council meeting this week, an address which coincides with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. During the period, focus is channelled on campaigns aimed at raising awareness on the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women as well as children.

Medupi stated that the district’s cumulative data on criminal cases against children stands at 247. He was giving an update on the status of the district for the last quarter of the year.

“Of the 247 cases, 113 were of defilement. There were also 54 rapes and 23 cases of neglect of children recorded. Twenty-seven cases were of child in conflict with the law, while seven cases were of cruel punishment to children,” he said.

“The district also had six incest cases. This is disheartening and I can only call upon everyone to come together and create circles of support for children to protect, guide and restore hope for them.” He emphasised that it is vital to identify areas of disadvantages (situations in communities and families) for children so that resources are channelled towards curbing the escalating number in children’s violations.

“Let us be each other’s keeper and report any suspicious behaviour in children or towards children. From what I have observed most of the cases occur because of child negligence. Some parents often leave their children without supervision. This eventually put them in danger,” Medupi added.

Prompted by the high statistics in registered cases affecting children, Medupi said the council recently ran a refresher training for Village Development Committees and their village child protection committees.