NGO trains children on Children’s Act
Organization for Youth and Elections in Botswana is worried about children’s lack of knowledge about laws that protect them.
Executive Director, Bernard Bogosi, told The Midweek Sun in an interview that it is unfortunate that most children in the more than 100 schools that the organisation has visited since 2015 do not know about laws that protect their rights as children.
He further said even when children turn 18 years, they still do not know what the law says about them.
“None of the students know how the constitution looks like, needless to mention the content.
The country is currently reviewing the constitution but most children are not aware of the process and what it means,” said Bogosi.
The organisation that is mandated to address youth voter apathy in the country received
100 copies of the Children’s Act from Tshekiso, Ditiro and Jani Legal Practice in Francistown.
Bogosi further said they are fortunate that the law firm donated to them and they will share copies with Junior and Senior Secondary schools across the country.
Even though this is not enough, they hope it will help students to familiarise themselves with the law in their school libraries. He further urged stakeholders and individuals to keep donating to the organisation.
Meanwhile, Attorneys Kagiso Jani of Tshekiso, Diriro and Jani Legal Practice in Francistown said they found it fit to donate copies of the Children’s Act to the organisation so that the children may be enlightened on the position of the law regarding their rights.
They believe this would go a long way in empowering children so that they are able to assert what they are entitled to and participate effectively in democracy in the country.