A Call for an End to Corporal Punishment on Children and Adolescents

Corporal punishment is still prevalent and entrenched in many societies of the world today. It is widespread despite its negative impact on children and adolescents. My intention is not open a can of worms by opening a debate on this controversial issue. I am merely highlighting what is perceived by many child rights activists as a potential threat to the full protection of children and adolescents. The continuous widespread of corporal punishment on children by older people under the guise of punishment or discipline violates their physical integrity and human dignity. This subsequently destroys their self esteem and impinges negatively on their development into fully fleshed adults.

Several speakers at the just ended World Congress III on Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, which was held in Rio de Janeiro on 25-28 November 2008, made it abundantly clearly that corporal punishment markedly increases children’s vulnerability to exploitation. Corporal punishment and the threat of it may be used by adults to coerce children into sexual relationships within or outside the family. Children are sometimes forced into early marriages under threat of corporal punishment, to which they succumb easily.

The fact that corporal punishment of children is currently socially accepted when all states criminalize even the most minor assault on adults truly reflects and reinforces the low status that children find themselves in. They being regarded as less than human, and relegated to objects and commodities that can be used for sexual gratification. This is the very status that allows them to become economic commodities in the sex industry particularly sex tourism.

Prohibiting corporal punishment of children gives them equal protection under the criminal law from assault, wherever they are and whoever the perpetrator is. This provides fundamental protection from all forms of assault, and asserts children’s right to full respect for their physical integrity and human dignity. This is a necessary step to eliminate sexual abuse and exploitation of children and adolescents.

The Committee on the Rights of the child alluded to the fact that, “addressing the widespread acceptance or tolerance of corporal punishment of children and eliminating it, in the family, schools and other settings, is not only an obligation of states parties under the Convention. It is also a key strategy for reducing and preventing all forms of violence in societies.” Abolishing corporal punishment will ensure that the legal frameworks put in place to address sexual exploitation extend to contributing factors. Replacing corporal punishment in families with positive parenting and non-violent relationships between adults and children will strengthen and protect families, reducing children’s vulnerability to sexual exploitation and abuse.

Delegates were urged to support the inclusion in the Document of the World Congress III on Sexual Exploitation of children and Adolescents of an explicit recommendation for full prohibition of all violence against children. This includes prohibition of corporal punishment of boys and girls. Children need more, not less protection from violence by the state, adults and other members of society.

The time for action is now, tomorrow never comes…

A Call for Zero Tolerance of Sexual Exploitation of Children

Sexual exploitation of children is one of the worst scourges of our time. This phenomenon destroys children’s self esteem. It negatively affects their dignity and self worth.

There must be zero tolerance for sexual exploitation of children in the world. This is what the Third World Congress on sexual exploitation of children which was held in Rio de Janeiro from 25-28 November 2008 called for.

There is a growing proliferation of pedophilia among society especially on the internet. Nowadays many children face problems such as incest, cyber sexual exploitation, pornography, sex tourism, prostitution and trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes.

The harming and ill-treatment of children is inexcusable. It has to be stopped forthwith. The protection of children from all forms of abuse is possible and requires collaborative efforts. There is need to strengthen legal frameworks followed by practical plans of action. This involves enactment of new laws and ensuring effective enforcement of such laws.

Challenges of sexual exploitation are enormous and therefore require collaborative efforts of all role players with children in the forefront. Those who deal with children’s issues should understand sexual exploitation broadly. Social workers, teachers, nurses and the police should be capacitated to deal effectively with sexual exploitation of children. These people should know what the rights of children are and what is in their best interests. It is important to ensure that children involved in criminal activities are treated as victims and not as perpetrators, as it is currently the case in many countries. We need to put children first and not justice first.

Resources have to be channeled towards prevention of child sexual exploitation. The legal framework should be able to deter the perpetrators from committing crimes against children. There is also a need for transformation of attitudes and mindset among family members who are generally involved in the abuse of children.

The “Child Abuse Watchdog” was in Rio de Janeiro and captured critical issues of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. So stay tuned for more on this…

Obrigado! Thank you!

How to make prevention of abuse and violence against children a global priority

Prevention of abuse and violence against children is the responsibility of all and sundry. Prevention is always better than cure hence the need to prioritize it. We all have a role to play to safeguard the rights of children.

A Guide for national NGOs and citizen action which focuses on combating child sexual exploitation and abuse have been developed for all to follow.
The objective of the guide is to inspire and mobilize NGOs and trigger citizen action to:
• Create a global culture of prevention.
• Increase prevention measures.
• Help implement the framework provided by the Convention on the rights of the Child- a global obligation for governments.
• Follow-up on the recommendations of the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against children.
• Empower, inform and facilitate the participation of young people in preventing abuse and violence against them
• Lobby government.
The guidelines are targeting all citizens-men, women and children-worldwide. This embraces all civil society organizations particularly NGOs, educational settings, grassroots groups, faith based organizations, the media and various networks dealing with child abuse, child rights and development issues.

Meaningful participation of children and young people is essential all matters that affect their rights and well-being. It is of paramount importance that their views are taken into consideration when formulating abuse and violence prevention and elimination laws and policies. In most cases, children who face violence tend to suffer in silence hence the need to make special efforts to make it possible for them to feel safe enough to speak out about violent incidents against them.

Learn How to Protect Children from Cyber Sexual Exploitation

Cyber sexual exploitation is on the increase across the globe; children are increasingly being sexually exploited through the use of the internet. The exploitation of children takes place across borders because the internet has no boundaries. For instance, a child in Africa can be sexual exploited by a pedophilia in the UK or Australia.

Cyber sexual exploitation may easily go unnoticed and yet the child would suffer psychological distress in silence without the knowledge of those who could assist. This is why it is important for the social workers and other law enforcement officers to be able to detect such problems and deal with them head on.

Sometimes it is not about the enactment of a new law but the new thinking and changing the mindset. There is no need to use too many words but to apply new strategies to deal with emerging problems. Children are better placed to identify ways of how they could be protected from cyber sexual exploitation.

There is need for education campaigns among children and members of society on cyber safety against sexual exploitation of children. Children believe that there should be global web page on the internet on safety measures against cyber sexual exploitation. Governments should also provide safety measures for children and their families in dealing with this problem effectively. Law enforcement agencies should publish details of perpetrators online and offline for children to know the perpetrators. The media should publish publications on the cyber sexual exploitation measures that can be undertaken by children to protect themselves from cyber sexual exploitation. There is need for a united front from all spheres on this matter.

Children need to be protected from sex tourism. Children are abused by tourists in hotels and the problem starts on the internet through which perpetrators stalk children and book hotels online without anybody knowing. Role players and law enforcement agencies need to be on the alert for such acts of abuse and exploitation of children.

Tomorrow may be too late! Action is needed now…

Peer pressure: A deadly problem among children.

Peer pressure is one of the worst prolems that children find themslves struggling with nowadya. This can result in loss of life if those involved are not cautious enough...

It is not my intention to raise people's emotions especially those who lost their loved ones at Matsha College in 2003. I am sending a positive message for the current and future children of Botswana because they are our future leaders...

On the 17 September, 2003 it was reported by BOPA that at least five students of Matsha Community College in Kang died and eight others were in critical condition after allegedly drinking a concentrated alcohol chemical called methonol.

The then director of Secondary Education Rueben Motswakae told BOPA in an interview that so far 13 students have been admitted in different hospitals in the country, eight of them in critical condition.

He said five students were air lifted to Princess Marina Hospital while one student was admitted at Jwaneng Hospital and the other at Mabutsane Primary Hospital. Three students were admitted at Hukuntsi hospital in stable conditions.

The deceased who were boarders came from the villages of Bobonong, Salajwe, Lokgwabe, Hukuntsi and Rakops. Their names have been withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

Motswakae said over 30 students received treatment at Kang clinic, adding that the number was likely increase as more students were coming forward with the information that they took the chemical.

He said the tragedy unfolded on a Saturday when some students at the school got into the Agricultural and Science Laboratory and stole methanol and pethyl-acetate chemicals that were said to 100 percent alcohol concentrated.

The reason for stealing the chemical was solely to get drunk, he said, adding that some diluted the chemical with coffee while others used water. This could be attributed to peer pressure...

Motswakae said some students started complaining of dizziness on a Sunday but did not report to the school authorities, as they were scared.

However, it was only on a Monday when the situation became serious that the school authorities knew about the matter after spotting one student walking naked in the school premises. The student was sent home to Mabutsane, as he appeared drunk.

The same day five students approached the authorities confessed to having stolen chemicals from the lab and drinking them to get high.

The five were rushed to Hukuntsi Hospital but two died on the way and three died later after arrival. Motswakae said the condition of the student who was sent home is not yet known and the police have been asked to trace him and advise him to go to hospital.

What can you say about this? Can children avoid peer pressure or resist it to save their lives?

Can Youth curb crime by participating in crime prevention?

Youth could curb crime by taking part in crime prevention activities... This was said by the Deputy school head urges young people to participate in crime prevention
in September 2003.

The Deputy head teacher of Lotlamoreng CJSS, Ms Batanang Bokete has urged young people to participate in crime prevention committees to help combat crime.

Bokete said this when addressing a one-day youth workshop at Goodhope. She said the youth should take the lead because currently elderly people dominated committees.

She said Botswana Police Service was committed to providing a professional law enforcement service for a peaceful, safe and secure nation, in partnership with the community.

She said peace, safety and security were essential elements to ensure continued prosperity as articulated in Vision 2016.

She said police service has a vital role in promoting these attributes.

Bokete said the youth should come up with constructive strategies to achieve goals on fighting crime.

She explained that the police workshops were organised to sensitise the youth on crime and provide them with the skills for preventing criminal activities.

She challenged the youth to be on forefront to prevent activities affecting their lives as stated in the national youth policy.

She said they should not allow criminals to take advantage of their ignorance to indulge in criminal activities. Bokete appealed to the youth to avoid night gangs that could lure them into committing crime and destroying their future.

She said such gangs could also involve them in murder and rape cases.

She also spoke about vandalism perpetrated by students in education institutions, saying it was costing government a lot of money.

Barolong Paramount Chief Kgosi Lotlamoreng II commended the police for their efforts to sensitise the youth on crime prevention.

He said government was concerned about the alarming rate of crime committed by the youth.

Can youth form crime prevention clubs to deal with crime prevention?

Are mothers capable of taking their Babies' lives?

On the 24 November, 2008 it was reported that members of the Botswana Police Service in Kazungula were searching for the mother of a newly born baby, who was rescued from a pit latrine recently.

The baby was found by the owner of the toilet wrapped and tied in a plastic bag in Kazungula.

It was retrieved from the latrine by the police and members of the community and only suffered minor injuries.

Assistant Superintendent Chakalisa Nkoni of Kazungula Police Station said the girl was rushed to Kasane Primary Hospital where she was treated for shock.

Mr Nkoni said the baby was doing well at the hospital adding that Kazungula police officers bought new clothes for her.

The search for the mother of the baby is still on. "This is the first incident of its kind this year and we appeal to the community to help us locate the baby's mother," Mr Nkoni said.

He applauded the residents of Kazungula for coming in large numbers to help them rescue the baby, saying such cooperation between the police and the community was crucial in fighting crime.

"It took us almost three hours to retrieve the baby from the latrine," he said.

The owner of the toilet, Mr Bernard Moyo said he heard a sound when he visited the latrine but he could tell where it came from. "I thought dogs were killing a goat behind the toilet".

He said when the sound increased he went out of the toilet to establish where it was coming from but found nothing.

According to Bopa report, "It was as if someone was being suffocated," he said, adding that his wife finally realised that it was the baby and they reported the matter to the police.

What can be done to stop mothers from killing their newly born babies?

We will address this when we come back...

Tips on How to Assess Possible Sexual Abuse in the Preschool Age Child

Sexual abuse among children is not always talked about in many African families. This is taboo especially as it would expose the family to ridicule and embarrassment. This therefore makes the assessment of possible sexual abuse in a preschool age child a complex undertaking.

According to Walker there are two goals of assessing abuse in a preschool age child are:
1. To provide a sufficient amount of information from which to determine the child’s current emotional status so as to design a treatment plan if necessary.
2. To assess who did what to the child in order to provide future protection of the child." Not all mental health professionals agree with respect to the ‘correct’ procedure or technique.

When assessing sexual abuse among preschool age children the following four parts should be taken into consideration:
• Medical evaluation and diagnosis of the child;
• Psychological evaluation of the parents;
• Evaluation of the family dynamics and home life; and
• Developmental and psychological evaluation of the preschool age child.

Ideally the psychologists assessing possible sexual abuse in the preschool child should interview all members of the family, the babysitter, the preschool teacher, and any other persons who might have knowledge about the child and the family. The following key components should be covered prior to interviewing the child.
• The child’s personal history, including psycho-sexual development.
• The child’s family history.
• History of the child’s development.
• A list of persons having access to the child.
• A list of what the child calls each member of the family group, including pets.
• A list of what the child calls the genitals and elimination functions.
• An idea of the child’s daily routine activities.
• Observations of usual and unusual behaviors.
It is important for the child’s parents to be asked about their marital history, custody, visitation, and what limits they set on their own sexual behavior in the presence of the child victim.

When observing the young child and his or her respective parents, particularly if there is the possibility that allegations in the context of a custody dispute may be false can be very helpful. Custodial parents may protest vehemently, claiming it will traumatize the child and that the child has no relationship with the other parent or is terrified of him. Sometimes these concerns may be legitimate, whereas at other times they point to a parent trying to suppress certain information. The medical expert needs to weigh the risks against the benefits of observing the child with the alleged perpetrator when he is a family member.

Generally, the interview of the child for possible sexual abuse is divided into the following phases:
• establishing rapport and giving permission to talk;
• obtaining the history of abuse;
• probing for details and validating information;
• Closure.

In most cases, it is rare to get conclusive physical evidence of sexual child abuse in preschool children. As such, the medical practitioner has to base his or her judgment about the credibility of an accusation on statement, emotions, and behaviors of the child and the child’s family. There are two basic processes that a medical practitioner can follow during an interview and when assessing whether the alleged sexual abuse took place or getting the child to confirm the medical practitioner’s belief that the abuse indeed took place.

Medical practitioners who are interested in assessing whether abuse took place should try to use all means possible to avoid distortion of the interview data via unsuitable suggestion or undue influence. Generally, these professionals have to be much more nondirective in their approach to the interview. Medical practitioners interested in confirming that the abuse did take place are able to justify through the use of more disturbing methods. Some examples of methods used in an intrusive manner are leading questions and anatomically ‘correct’ dolls. It is worth noting that both of these methods have their own pros and cons.

Some experts have argued that the person assessing the child should know nothing about the alleged abuse before the interview with the child. Furthermore, such information will predispose the practitioner to ask certain types of questions which will ‘suggest’ certain types of responses from the child. In some cases, other experts contend that leading questions are necessary with preschool age children.
Similarly, while using anatomically correct dolls with alleged victims, it is suggested that the practitioner needs to present the dolls to the child victim of abuse and say, "let’s pretend that this is you.’ If the child does not name the adult dolls, the practitioner can say, ‘Let’s pretend that this is mommy’ (or daddy, or whoever), and suggest a situation, such as bedtime...Any information about where the sexual abuse took place or the suspected offender can be induced in the ‘let’s pretend’ situation".

Others have suggested that the child should not be given any directions about what to name the dolls or which situation to put them in. They contend that doing so might suggest wrong information to the child, which may misdirect the interview in one direction, and reduce the chances that some other type of abuse that the child victim has experienced will be exposed.

To conclude, one can say that with the current differences of opinion regarding the methodologically appropriate method to be used in a preschool child sexual abuse assessment probably the best advice for both the mental health and legal community is to videotape all interviews with the child.
Do realize how complex it is to Assess Possible Sexual Abuse in the Preschool Age Child

References
1. Children in need of care regulations, 2005
2. D. Schetky & A. Green, Child Sexual Abuse; A Handbook for Health Care And Legal Professionals 117 (1988).
3. L.E.A. Walker, Handbook On Sexual Abuse Of Children 175, 1988.
4. Schetky & Green, supra not 4 at 63-71 write that the objectives of a clinical evaluation for child sexual abuse are: (1) understanding the child and allegations in the context of family dynamics and the child’s development; (2) validating sexual abuse; (3) evaluating the need for treatment; (4) diagnosis; (5) assessing competency to testify; (6) preparing the child emotionally for the physical exam; and (7) developing and implementing disposition plans.
5. Haugaard & Reppucci, The Sexual Abuse Of Children A Comprehensive Guide To Current Knowledge And Intervention Strategies 156 (1988).
6. T. Musty, Preschool Children’s Erroneous Allegations Of Sexual Molestation, 148 American Journal Of Psychiatry, 1988.
7. L.E.A. Walker Supra Note 6..
8. Schetky & Green Supra Note 4 .

eBlogzilla

Signs of Abuse in the Family on children and women

Domestic violence is common nowadays in many families. Children and women happen to be the ones who are always on the receiving end due to domestic violence. This calls for concerted efforts from child protection agencies and law enforcement agencies.
Are you a victim of abuse?

Read on to learn how you can tell that you are or your children are becoming or already victims of abuse…

It is apparent that abuse in the household is generally perpetrated by the men folks as opposed to the women folks. The worst thing is that most of the victims of domestic violence do not always reveal their ordeal for the sake of the family.
How do you know that something is wrong?

I caution you to be careful of the looming abuse…

Women folks you should be on the look out for signs of domestic violence and other types of abuse… Check out this …

Child abuse research and other related surveys have shown that you may be becoming or already are a victim of abuse if you:
• Feel like you have to be extra careful to keep him from getting angry.
• Are frightened by his temper.
• Feel you can't live without him.
• Stop seeing other friends or family members,
• Give up activities you enjoy most because he doesn't like them.
• Are afraid to tell him your worries and feelings about the relationship.
• Are often compliant because you are afraid to hurt his feelings;
• Have the urge to "rescue" him when he is troubled.
• Feel that you are the only one who can help him
• Feel that you should try to change his behavior and attitude.
• Find yourself apologizing to yourself or others for your partner's behavior when you are treated badly.
• Stop expressing opinions if he doesn't agree with them.
• Stay because you feel he will kill himself if you leave.
• Believe that his jealousy is a sign of love.
• Have been kicked, hit, shoved, or had things thrown at you by him when he was jealous or angry.
• Believe the critical things he says to make you feel bad about yourself.
• Believe that there is something wrong with you if you don't enjoy the sexual things he makes you do.
• Believe in the traditional ideas of what a man and a woman should be and do -- that the man makes the decisions and the woman pleases him.
• Last but not least, have been abused as a child or seen your mother abused.

If you are abused know that you are not alone and that you are not to blame. You cannot control your partner’s violence.
Here are some of the ways you and your kids can make yourselves safer from abuse:
• Call the police if you have been assaulted.
• Charging abusive males is a necessary step in reducing physical violence.
• Tell someone and keep a record of all incidents for evidence.
• Write down the details for yourself as soon as possible after the assault.

Keep it in a safe place where he won't find it.
• Develop a safety plan. Memorize emergency numbers. Keep spare house and car keys handy. Know where you can stay in an emergency.
• Consider ending the relationship as soon as possible. Without intervention, his violence will increase in frequency and severity as time passes.
• Recognize that no one has the right to control you and that it is everyone's human right to live without fear.

You need to be on the look out for men who:
• Do not listen to you, ignore you or talk over you.
• Sit or stand too close to you, making you uncomfortable and seem to enjoy it.
• Do only what they want or push you to get what they want.
• Express anger and violence towards women either through words or physically.
• Have a bad attitude toward women.
• Are overly possessive or jealous.
• Drink or use drugs heavily.

Are you dating one already?

Child Abuse Institutions

Child Abuse Institutions are more common nowadays..

In all countries around the world today, there is no empirical evidence that counters the assertion that institutionalised children are exposed to multiple disadvantages and are vulnerable to both physical and sexual abuse (Utting, 1997; Tolfree, 1995).

The problems associated with orphanhood have reached new psychological, social, economic and political dimensions. It is evident that orphans face a plethora of problems stemming from abuse by those who are supposed to protect them, such as their caregivers, religious leaders and even teachers. They face impoverishment, stigmatisation, isolation and rejection by members of society because of their HIV status (STPA, 1999). Some of the emerging problems from the implementation of the Orphan Care programme in Botswana include separation of orphan siblings between relatives for ulterior motives.

Relatives strive to have custody of orphans in order to access their monthly food basket and other benefits such clothing and toiletry. On the basis of these problems, the Government has been involved in extensive consultations with stakeholders to find ways of addressing the myriad problems faced by orphans and other vulnerable children. As a result the Government is developing Foster Care Regulations known as Children in Need of Care Regulations which will regulate and formalise the fostering of orphans. Some of the orphans can not be fostered by anybody because they are visibly showing signs and symptoms of AIDS and as such, residential care becomes the only option for such children.

A total of 189 countries, including Botswana, signed the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS in June 2001. This Declaration is particularly relevant to children growing up without families. Articles 65–67 of this Declaration spell out the obligations of states in relation to the care and protection of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. Article 65 spells out that by 2003, develop and by 2005 implement national policies and strategies to build and strengthen governmental, family and community capacities to provide a supportive environment for orphans and girls and boys infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. This include providing appropriate counselling and psychosocial support, ensuring their enrolment in school and access to shelter, good nutrition, health and social services on an equal basis with other children. Further more, to protect orphans and vulnerable children from all forms of abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, trafficking and loss of inheritance, as reflected under Article 66. The Declaration wants to ensure non-discrimination and full and equal enjoyment of all human rights through the promotion of an active and visible policy of de-stigmatisation of children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS as stated under Article 67.

Finally, the Declaration will pressurise the international community, especially donor countries, civil society, and the private sector, to complement effectively national programmes. These would also support programmes for children orphaned or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in the affected regions and in countries at high risk and to direct special assistance to sub-Saharan Africa.

References

Short Term Plan of Action (STPA) on the Care of Orphans in Botswana. Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing. 1999. Gaborone. Botswana.

Tolfree, D. K. (1995) Roofs and Roots: The Care of Separated Children in the Developing World. Aldershot. Arena.

Tolfree, D.K. (2003). Save the Children Sweden. Stockholm. Sweden.

Toynbee, B (1998) " Children of despair." The Guardian, 3 June, 22.

Triseliotis, J., Sellick, C. and Short, R. (1995) Foster Care. London: Batsford.

Child Abuse in Children’s Homes

Institutional care while not the best option is sometimes unavoidable. Apparently, support should be given to centres that are suitable for children with special needs, but placement should not be considered permanent.

The increase in the number of children living out of family care is a growing concern especially in developing countries and this can be attributed to several problems. Out of the estimated 14.5 million orphans in the world, 12 million are in Sub- Saharan African (UNAIDS 2002). This has accelerated the use of residential care as more and more parents succumb to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Other contributing factors include armed conflict and genocide in many African countries such as Rwanda, Liberia and Sierra-Leone, which have resulted in the killing of parents, displacement of children from their families and necessitated urgent solutions to childcare problems (Tolfree, 2003).

There are some existing tensions and dilemmas found in residential care and placement of children. There is serious concern in respect of the growing use of residential care especially in developing countries. As such, children’s rights are violated in residential care centres. There is need to put child protection plans and strategies in place to address children’s problems through the use of other alternative methods of care and protection of children.

The reasons for so many children – over 8 million world-wide, living in residential care are diverse and complex. The socio-economic problems, globalisation, poverty, migration, HIV/AIDS pandemic, armed conflict and various forms of exploitation and abuse have affected the ability of families to raise their own children (Tolfree, 1995).

In many developing countries, residential care is the main strategy for helping children in need of care and protection. Save the Children argues that many features of residential care are an abuse of children’s rights and is concerned that the issue of children living in institutional care is escaping international attention and needs placing on the international agenda. Another concern is that the search for good community-based childcare alternatives is not being given enough attention by governments and donors. Through working with children, there is need to find better solutions for helping children affected by poverty, armed conflict and HIV/AIDS.

References

Save the Children Fund, UK, 1991.Sellick, C., (1998, p.303). The Use of Institutional Care for Children across Europe. European Journal of Social Work vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 301-310, 1998.

Short Term Plan of Action (STPA) on the Care of Orphans in Botswana. Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing. 1999. Gaborone. Botswan

Tolfree, D. K. (1995) Roofs and Roots: The Care of Separated Children in the Developing World. Aldershot. Arena.Tolfree, D.K. (2003). Save the Children Sweden. Stockholm. Sweden.

Abuse and Violence against women and children in society

Abuse and Violence against women and children in societyAbuse cases and killings by partners is on the increase. It is common for the so called lovers to kill each other in the name of love. This is especially happening among the young lovers or young couples. There is no empirical evidence so far to show the causes and the magnitude of the problem. What we know is that this is another cause of death third to AIDS and the road carnage in Botswana.

Violence against women and children can not be justified or acceptable in society.
It is indeed a crime. Violence:
• is life threatening.
• has no place in the family or in the community.
• is learned behavior. It can, therefore, be changed.
• is a choice.
• is a power issue.
• is never justified. No behavior of any woman justifies or provokes violence.
• is never the responsibility of the woman being abused. Responsibility for violence rests with the batterer.
• Does not stem from "loss of control". Control is what the batterer wants.
• Occurs in all classes, races, and cultural groups. The issue of violence is complex. We need to understand the social, personal, economic, political, cultural, and religious dimensions of violence in a multicultural context.

In the recent past in South Africa, Zimbabwean immigrant women and children faced specific problems, such as:
• xenophobia
• immigration policy/laws
• language barriers
• service access/lack of availability
• lack of experience with social services
• distrust of the judicial system
• isolation
• low economic status.

The community has the right and the responsibility to get involved. The more that is known about violence, the more effective the community can be in intervening and preventing violence against women and children. This could bring violence to an end...

Child Protection Perspective

Child protection is not a new concept..

Some attempts to protect and uphold the rights of the children can be traced to the 1924 Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child and the 1959 Declaration on the Rights of the Child. Other international treaties on child protection that have taken centre stage include the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the 1996 Hague Convention on the protection of the child.

Most countries have shown their commitment to uphold the children’s rights by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child except Somalia and the United States of America.

It is gratifying that almost all the countries have ratified the UNCRC and have pledged to make laws and repeal existing laws to make them consistent with the provisions of the Convention. However there is caution that, " the Convention on the Rights of the Child (the Convention) notwithstanding its near universal acceptance, must in many respects be viewed as a promising starting point on the long and winding road to the global improvement of the status of children" (Rwezaura, 1989:p). He argues that the world community is quite diverse socially, economically and culturally, and therefore cannot understand or interpret the Convention on the Rights of Child the same way.

There will always be culturally determined differences in the understanding of what sexual exploitation or abuse or what kind of work is risky to the child or what conduct, customs and practices are not in best interests of the child (An-Naim, 1992).

The methods and processes to protect and uphold the rights of children may vary quite considerably from one culture to another and from region to region. However, the underlying values and philosophy constituting the foundation of human dignity and integrity are largely cross-cultural and universal and hence the ability of the international community to reach normative consensus on the rights of the child as stipulated in the Convention (Ncube, 1998).

References
An-Naim. A, ‘and Goldbasch, 1992. Human Rights in Cross Cultural Perspectives, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia. Ncube, W. 1998. (ed), Law, Culture, Tradition and Children's Rights in Eastern and Southern Africa. Brookfield, USA: Ashgate.Rwezaura, B. " Changing community Obligations to the Elderly in Contemporary Africa", Journal of Social Development in Africa 4, 1989.

Child Abuse Laws in Botswana

In Botswana there are several laws that are meant to address child abuse and neglect.

Here are some of the child abuse laws that protect children…

The Children’s Act and Child Abuse
The Children’s Act Section 11 finds any parent or guardian of a child or any person having custody of a child who neglects, mistreats or exploits a child guilty of an offence. Neglect may include the unreasonable failure to provide for adequate food, clothing, housing, health and care of the child and exposing a child to conditions or circumstances likely to cause him/her physical, mental or psychological distress or damage.

The Children’s Act also provides that any parent or guardian having custody of a child is guilty of an offence if s/he causes or conduces to the seduction, abduction or prostitution of the child.
Although the sale and trafficking of children is virtually unknown in the country, both the Penal Code and the Children’s Act make the abduction of children criminal offences.

Penal Code
The Penal Code covers forms of abuse against children, namely, abduction of females for immoral purposes, abduction of persons below 16 years, indecent assault of young children, defilement of persons below 16 years of age, unlawful carnal knowledge of children
The Penal Code has provisions which deal with sexual abuse and exploitation. Section 141 holds that any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of another person or who causes the penetration of a sexual organ or instrument into the person of another without consent is guilty of rape.

The Employment ActThe Employment Act protects children against exploitation and hazardous employment. The Act defines a child as a person under the age of 15 years and a young person as a person who has attained the age of 15 years but is under the age of 18 years. The law permits employment of children 13 to 15 years of age in light work that is unlikely to be harmful to their health or development and that will not prejudice their benefiting from school or vocational programmes. No child shall be permitted to work more than 6 hours a day or 30 hours a week.

Birth Registration Act
The CRC states that every child has the right to a name and a nationality and the right to protection from being deprived of his or her identity. Therefore birth registration is a fundamental means of securing these rights for children.

Botswana has a Births and Deaths Registration Act which makes birth registration compulsory. There is a Department of Civil and National Registration in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs which is responsible for the registration of civil registration and national identity cards in the country.

So far, the department has 32 registration offices countrywide, 30 of which are networked. In order to reach remote areas, the department has mobile offices which register civil events and issue national identity cards and birth certificates. Any person who has attained age 16 years must have a national identity card.

A levy of BWP5.00 (US$1.00) to a maximum of BWP500.00 (US$100.00) is charged for late registration. At the moment, there are no waivers for any communities, including children under the age of 18 years. A maximum of BWP500.00 (US$100.00) or six months imprisonment or both fine and charge is administered for late registration. AT the moment, there are no waivers for any communities, including children under the age of 18 years.

Removal of an abused child to a place of safety

There’s an old adage that says ignorance of the law is no excuse...

Many people remain ignorant of the law despite all efforts to ensure that laws are published in the Government gazette for them to read them. Who is to blame for the society’s ignorance of the law? Here’s how to remove a child to a place of safety in Botswana under the Children in need of care Regulations…

Section 15 (1) of the Children’s Act of 1981 provides that where any person observing a child has reasonable cause to believe that the child is in need of care he shall immediately make a report thereof to the social welfare or a police officer in the district in which the child resides.

A social welfare officer or a police officer to whom a report has been made under the above section may remove or cause to be removed to a place of safety the child in question and shall as soon as thereafter as may be , subject to the provisions of section 17 (5), bring the child or cause him or her to be brought before the children’s court of the district in which the child is resident..

The child has to be brought before the court within 5 days of the removal.Where there is no immediate need for the removal of the child to a place of safety, the court may order that the parent or guardian of the child to bring the child before the court on a specified date.
The police officer who carries out the removal of the child to a place of safety must have an order in writing from the children’s court.

Power of a parent or guardian to bring a child before the Court Under Regulation 4 a parent or guardian who brings a child before the Court on the ground that he or she is unable to control the child, and that the child be dealt with the child as a child in need of care has to sign a consent form.

The best interests of the childThe best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration in determining any question with respect to the removal of the child to an institution or a foster home.

When determining the best interests of the child, the following key factors are taken into consideration:

• The ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child in the light of the child’s age and understanding;

• The physical, emotional and educational needs of the child;

• The likely effect on the child of any change in his or her environment;

• the age, sex, background and any other relevant characteristics of the child.

• any harm already suffered or that is likely to be suffered by the child, if the child is not removed from his or her home.

Home environment similar to that of natural parentsWhen making an order for the placement of a child with a foster parent, if it is in the best interest of the child, the child shall be placed in a home environment similar to that of his or her natural parents. This is to curb further trauma and stress related with the environment.

Delay is likely to be prejudicial.
In the proceedings relating to the removal of a child to an institution or foster home the court must apply the general principle that any delay in determining the question is likely to be prejudicial to the welfare of the child.

8 Key Causes of Child abuse

Here are the 8 key causes of child abuse in Botswana:

1. HIV/AIDS Scourge
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has had serious dire consequences for children, most notably in fuelling the orphan crisis. Using the international definition which states that an orphan is a “child below the age of 18 who has lost one or both parents” the prevalence of orphans among children below 18 years in Botswana is 17.2% (137,805 children) (National Situation Analysis 2007). The Botswana definition states that an orphan is a ‘child below 18 years who has lost one (single) or both parents (married couples), biological or adoptive, the prevalence of orphans among children below 18 years stands at 6.5% (51,806 children by end of 2007).

Orphans are potentially extremely vulnerable to child abuse and exploitation, to withdrawal from education, to child labour, to emotional distress and trauma. It is recognised that orphans and vulnerable children have complex psychosocial needs which cannot be met by food baskets alone. Elderly female care givers are under serious stress due to role reversal. The movement of children between relatives for access to their benefits, for domestic and agricultural labour is a cause of concern.

The impact of the scourge is also experienced by children who are not necessarily orphaned. The National Situation Analysis 2007 found a prevalence rate of 4.4%, for children vulnerable because they lived in a household where there was a person who had been critically ill for at least 3 months.

2. Poverty
Children can become vulnerable due to poverty and especially absolute poverty. In the National Situation Analysis 30.6% of the children were found to be vulnerable because they lived in a household where there is no one gainfully employed. The effects of poverty are being compounded by the impacts of environmental factors including drought, flooding and climate change which can lead to loss of livelihoods and homes and internal displacement.

3. Dysfunctional families
Some children struggle to grow up in families prone to internal conflicts, alcoholism, violence, abuse and poor parenting skills. These children are unlikely to enjoy their fundamental rights and are even driven onto the streets to support themselves. Children with unmet emotional needs are also particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation.

4. Discrimination and marginalisation of minority groups
Some children from minority groups, especially San children can be found living in appalling conditions in squatter encampments on the outskirts of some of the country’s towns and large villages. These children’s basic rights to education, health care and shelter are compromised. They are extremely vulnerable to abuse.

5. Abandonment, child labour and Child headed households
A child may be vulnerable due to a wide range of circumstances such as abandonment, child labour, heading a household, living in a household headed by a child, disability, internal displacement, illegal immigration, separation from parents, imprisonment of parents especially mothers, residence in squatter settlements, residence on remote farms and unmet psychosocial needs even in financially secure families.

6. Gender Issues
Boys and girls may be vulnerable, but in gender specific ways. Girls are more likely to be sexually abused, engaged in transactional and intergenerational sex, and used in domestic labour. Boys may be withdrawn from school for agricultural labour or to work on the streets. Both boys and girls are heading households and caring for their younger siblings.

7. The health status of children
35.5% of Botswana’s population is under the age of 15 years. In terms of health status, the country has relatively high infant mortality and under-five mortality rates [87 & 120 per 1,000 live births respectively ] and it is estimated that around 14,000 children aged 0-14 years are living with HIV. The good news is that in 2005, 84% of these children who were in need received ART, the highest percentage in sub-Saharan Africa .

8. Access and retention of children in education
While there is high enrolment rate of children into primary education [almost 95%], not all these children complete their basic education, and drop out rates are high in remoter rural areas.
Pre school provision remains very patchy and is largely provided by civil society organisations with limited and often insecure access to resources. Although 2009 will see the beginning of the roll out of formal pre-school education for four year olds, this will still leave a significant unmet need.

Birth Registration: A Child’s important step towards accessing essential services

Birth Registration is a child’s important step towards accessing essential services..

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that a child has a right to a name and a nationality. The Convention provides for the registration of a child immediate after birth. It is unfortunate that in 2006, births around 15 million children went unregistered.

Birth registration is one of the fundamental rights of children and is a prerequisite to fulfilling other human rights and access to essential services. This includes access to education, health care, and protection from child labor, child marriage, underage military service, child trafficking, and harassment by police.

Civil registration is of utmost importance for both states and individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. In 2006, 36 % of the 51 million children who born have not had their birth registration were found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa also has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world and the number of children orphaned by AIDS in this region is projected to keep increasing.

A child’s birth certificate may ensure success to key HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services, such as health care, education and other services. A parent’s death certificate is of equal critical importance for the child’s right to inheritance and properly to be protected. A child with a birth certificate “has so many chances… It will be very good for that child” (focus group discussion with HIV positive parents, Mukujju health Centre, Uganda, August 2008).
The Committee of United nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (2008) General Comment No. 3: HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child said:
“The committee wishes to emphasize the critical implications of proof of identity for children affected by HIV/AIDS as it relates to securing recognition as a person before the law, safeguarding the protection of rights, in particular to inheritance, education, health and other social services… In this respect birth registration is critical to ensuring the rights of the child and is also necessary to minimize the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of affected children”.

A strong civil registration system also helps policy and decision-makers meet the challenges of HIV/AIDS by planning the appropriate scale of budget allocations and distribution of prevention, treatment, care and support services. Such systems keep track of AIDS IN terms of the total number of AIDS-related deaths, the survival rate of those on ART and the number of children affected and orphaned by the pandemic.

The data compiled by birth and death registration further provides the foundation for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), such as MDG 4, reducing child mortality, and MDG 6, combating HIV/AIDS.

The Best Interest of the Child: Is it always given paramount consideration?

The best interest of the child should be given paramount consideration at all times to ensure protection of children from all forms of abuse and neglect. Our concern is whether the best interest is always given paramount consideration by key service providers.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that the best interests of the child will always be of paramount consideration when dealing matters affecting the child’s well-being
Factors that come to mind that can be taken into account in determining the best interests of the child include:
• the need to protect the child from harm;
• the capacity of the child’s parents or other person to care for and protect the child;
• the child’s spiritual, physical, emotional and educational needs;
• the child’s age, maturity, sex, background, and language;
• the child’s cultural, ethnic or religious identity;
• the likely effect on the child of any change in the child’s circumstances;
• the importance of stability and continuity in the child’s living arrangements and the likely effect on the child of any change in, or disruption of, those arrangements; and
• any wishes or views expressed by the child, having regard to the child’s age, maturity and level of understanding in determining the weight to be given to those wishes or views; or
• any other factor which will ensure the general well – being of the child.
• No discrimination against any child on the basis of sex, family, color, race, ethnicity, place of origin, language, religion, economic status, parents, physical or mental status, or any other status;
• Children including those who are most vulnerable to be exposed to the same challenges, activities and opportunities that promote their health and development as all other children.
• every child shall be cared for and protected from harm;
• the parents, family and community of a child have the primary responsibility of safeguarding and promoting the child’s well – being;
• every child shall have stable, secure and safe relationships and living arrangements;
• every child shall have the most appropriate form of care for his or her development .

Experience has shown that people who want custody of children are not always honest in dealing with the best interest of the child. Even social workers involved in such matters at times find themselves being swayed by the best interests of adults as opposed to those of children. For instance those who tell the truth in ambiguous areas like determination of custody and child abuse, are often hesitant in speech, while those who lie come across as very sure of what they are saying, and hence make a better impression upon many magistrate courts.

On many occasions, some dishonest persons who have their own best interests at heart in visitation rights and custody battles care only about what they want and not about what is in the best interest of the child. It is important for the social workers to guard against being swayed by these kind of people to the detriment of the very children that they want to protect.

Civil Registration and International commitments

Civil Registration is based on International commitments that have been made to safeguard the rights and well-being of children worldwide.

Welcome on borad and learn more about civil registration..

Strengthening civil registration systems is a government responsibility: birth registration is a child’s human right.

Most National plans of action (NPA) for orphans and vulnerable children do not explicitly acknowledge that birth registration is a human right, however. No NP has recognized the value of death registration in protecting children from property and inheritance loss, which is a human rights and livelihoods issue.

International Policy Commitments on Civil Registration

• Article 7 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child gives every child the right to be registered at birth by the state within whose jurisdiction the child is born.
• The 2002 World Fit for Children reaffirms governments’ commitment to ensure the birth registration for all children.

• The 2004 Global Framework for the protection, care and support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World with HIV and AIDS calls for access for orphans and vulnerable children to essential services, including birth Registration, to be ensured.

• The 2006 Global Partners Forum identified civil registration to be one of the strategic areas of importance to building a comprehensive response for children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Poverty, exacerbated by HIV and AIDS, hinders the demand by parents to register their children, as meagre finances are rather spent on education and health requirements, including ART, clothing, nutrition, and shelter.

More often civil registration systems are centralized, impeding the access of those that have to travel long distances. Indirect costs of obtaining a birth or death certificate usually outweigh the direct costs. However, urbanization does not significantly impact on increased registration rates.

Tentative recommendations for scaling up strong civil registration systems

1. A decentralized community-based approach to registering vital data and disturbing certificates can reduce or nullify indirect costs. At the same time, the community collectors sensitize and raise the awareness of individual households and community members to the importance of birth or death registration. Registering data at the district or provincial level allows local government to identify and monitor orphaned and vulnerable children, increasing the efficiency of the delivery of services to these people.

2. Specific national legislations and policies pertaining to civil registration need to be developed and implemented, recognizing the importance of such systems on the state’ s responsibility to monitor its citizens and provide them with comprehensive basic services, including appropriate HIV-related prevention, treatment, support and care programmes for adults and children protection should be highlighted, and especially for orphans access to property and inheritance rights.

3. Birth and death registration awareness should be incorporated and integrated into HIV and AIDS programming , such as adult’s and children’s voluntary counseling and testing , PMTCT and ante and post-natal programmes, youth and children’s life skills courses ,HIV and AIDS support groups, and children’s and youth’s knowledge and practice in relation to health, sexuality and HIV.

Child abuse and the Media

How child friendly is the media fraternity?

This is a million dollar question that we need to answer especially in respect of what obtains on the ground...

The media in most cases has not been child friendly especially in reporting cases of child abuse. There has been negative reporting and gross violation of children's rights in the process of reporting.

The media has an important role to play in shaping public knowledge, attitudes and creating awareness. The media should assist government in child abuse preventive education and community building. As such, the media should be used to provide well balanced and non emotive information on:

• Child abuse and neglect.
• Sexual exploitation.
• Life skills
• Parenting skills
• The needs and positive development of children

Instead of reporting negatively about abused children the media should play a watchdog role or function to ensure constructive and well balanced reporting on children’s issues. The media should avoid negative education at all costs such as publicizing materials that are damaging to children and their families. Moreover the media should not foster the impression that violence and indiscriminate sexual activity are normal.

The media should continuously provide vital information on the available services for abused and children to create awareness among community members.

Children should also have an opportunity to play a role in the media because children learn better and grasp information more quickly from each other. Children have the right to speak out on matters that affect them. Their opinions must be heard and respected.

The media should facilitate a process where children can openly speak about matters that are important to them and to the people around them. As such, grownups should ask them what they think and listen to what they have to say instead of shutting them up.

It is important for children to be given the opportunity to be heard where their future is discussed. This is to ensure that they meaningfully participate in matters that affect their rights and well-being.

The media should denounce negative cultural and religious practices that are detrimental to the well-being of children such as female genital mutilation and forced marriages.

On the basis of the foregoing statements, no person shall publish the name and address of any child brought before a children’s court or the name or address of any school which that child is or has been attending, or any photograph of that child, or any matter likely to lead to the identification of that child.

Any person who contravenes any provision of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to conviction thereof.

How To Identify Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Can members of the community identify signs of child sexual abuse?
Sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse are increasing rapidly in Botswana despite the existing legal mechanisms forbidding these practices and the stiff penalties that have been introduced to deter the culprits.

With the advent of HIV/AIDS pandemic children especially girls are more vulnerable to sexual abuse for several reasons which include material inducement offered to them by older men in exchange for sex. Some children succumb to sexual exploitation because of poverty and insecurity due to unreliable income in the household.

Incest as a form of child sexual abuse is more common than it has been documented mainly due to under-reporting of the offence. There are several explanations for the under- reporting which are among others, the secrecy surrounding the problem.

The perpetrators of child sexual abuse are usually close relatives of the victims and consequently there is a stigma associated with the commissioning of the offence, which normally makes the victims to shy away from the problem and choose to remain silent. It is been observed that associated with the stigma is the fear that reporting the matter might bring tensions and misunderstandings among relatives.

Case study 1: Incest

Mpho is a 15-year-old girl who is cared for by her uncle, who is a traditional doctor. She has five siblings: a twin brother who suffers from epilepsy (which the uncle is treating), a 13 year old sister, Marea, twin brothers who are ten years old and a small sister who is 6 years old. Her uncle has turned her into a surrogate wife (his own wife is not around) and Mpho has an ongoing sexual relationship with him. She lives with him in a newly built brick house while the other children live in a dilapidated reed hut across the compound. Mpho is responsible for seeing that her younger siblings are fed and clothed and she exerts control over them. She keeps Marea dressed in ragged, too-small childish dress. When they received a donation of some (girl's) clothes she gave one or two items to each of the children except Marea who got nothing and Mpho kept most for herself.

This case study is a tip of the ice berg... you know better...

The number of cases of child sexual abuse reported to the police is high and increasing at an alarming rate. Many cases of this nature go unreported because children as victims are powerless. This is so because the perpetrators are often breadwinners in the household and reporting them undermines the family income.

In most cases the abuse takes place in the family setting and therefore such cases are rarely reported due to coercion by the perpetrator, shame and fear on the part of the child.
The Children’s Act Section 11 finds any parent or guardian of a child or any person having custody of a child who neglects, mistreats or exploits a child guilty of an offence.

Neglect include the unreasonable failure to provide for adequate food, clothing, housing, health and care of the child and exposing a child to conditions or circumstances likely to cause him/her physical, mental or psychological distress or damage.

The Children’s Act also provides that any parent or guardian having custody of a child is guilty of an offence if s/he causes or conduces to the seduction, abduction or prostitution of the child.
Section 12 (1) of the Children's Act provides that any parent or guardian having the custody of a child who causes or conduces to the seduction, abduction or prostitution of the child or the commissioning by the child of an immoral act shall be guilty of an offence.

In criminal cases, where the child is a victim of child sexual abuse, the proceedings are held in camera to protect the identity of the child. Only authorised officials and the parents of the child are allowed inside the courtroom. Members of the press are also not allowed to report on the matter or take pictures of the victim. The proceedings can not be published disclosing the identity of the child as stipulated in Section 172 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

Section 171 of the Botswana Penal Code provides that no cases of incest are prosecuted without the written consent from the Attorney General's Chambers. It is believed that cases of incest are controversial and normally bring conflicts between members of the same family. So it has been found necessary to establish first whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute.

Mothers' Key Role in Combating Diseases of Children.

The key role of the mother on the child is the prevention of disease, not its cure. When disease attacks the child, the mother has then a part to perform, which it is especially important during the epochs of infancy and childhood should be done well. I refer to those duties which constitute the maternal part of the management of disease.

Medical treatment, for its successful issue, is greatly dependent upon a careful, pains-taking, and judicious maternal superintendence. No medical treatment can avail at any time, if directions be only partially carried out, or be negligently attended to; and will most assuredly fail altogether, if counteracted by the erroneous prejudices of ignorant attendants. But to the affections of infancy and childhood, this remark applies with great force; since, at this period, disease is generally so sudden in its assaults, and rapid in its progress, that unless the measures prescribed are rigidly and promptly administered, their exhibition is soon rendered altogether fruitless.

The amount of suffering, too, may be greatly lessened by the thoughtful and discerning attentions of the mother. The wants and necessities of the young child must be anticipated; the fretfulness produced by disease, soothed by kind and affectionate persuasion; and the possibility of the sick and sensitive child being exposed to harsh and ungentle conduct, carefully provided against.

Again, not only is a firm and strict compliance with medical directions in the administration of remedies, of regimen, and general measures, necessary, but an unbiased, faithful, and full report of symptoms to the physician, when he visits his little patient, is of the first importance.

An ignorant servant or nurse, unless great caution be exercised by the medical attendant, may, by an unintentional but erroneous report of symptoms, produce a very wrong impression upon his mind, as to the actual state of the disease. His judgment may, as a consequence, be biased in a wrong direction, and the result prove seriously injurious to the wellbeing of the patient. The medical man cannot sit hour after hour watching symptoms; hence the great importance of their being faithfully reported. This can alone be done by the mother, or some person equally competent.

There are other serious considerations which might be adduced here, proving how much depends upon efficient maternal management in the time of sickness; but they will be severely dealt with, when the diseases with which they are more particularly connected are spoken of.

Learn How to Eliminate Child Labor

Is it possible to eliminate child labor in our communities?

Yes, it is possible to eliminate child labor... Here’s how you can eliminate child labor...

Children are the future of the country therefore the society must ensure that their healthy development is promoted. This is compromised by involvement in the worst forms of child labor and by engaging in other forms of work that are likely to be harmful to their health and welfare.

This post describes the strategy to be followed to address such kinds of work. It is referred to as the National Action Plan towards the Elimination of Child labor (APEC).

The APEC has been put in place to reduce the chances of children becoming involved in the worst forms of labor or other forms of work that might be detrimental to their health and development. When developing this strategy it was important to consult widely to determine what, within the Botswana context, should be regarded as work that might be detrimental to a child and therefore termed ‘child labor’.

Work in and of itself is not necessarily harmful to children. It can often be beneficial to children. An ILO document acknowledges that “the absence of work….can condemn the child to a variety of social, moral and health risks’. In addition when identifying the kinds of work that may be considered beneficial or harmful to children it is important to consider cultural views, which differ from community to community.

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child explicitly acknowledges that children have a responsibility to assist their families and communities in case of need, and to learn skills in the process. Therefore throughout the APEC it is acknowledged that work by children, such as reasonable household chores and fetching water and wood can be beneficial to children.

Household chores can teach them skills and impart a sense of responsibility that will help ensure that the young people of today become positive and able adults in the future. However, even activities that would be wholesome if done in moderation can become problematic when they interfere with a child’s development. For example, when household chores take so long that children miss school or do not have time for homework, then government needs to consider whether it is possible to do something to improve the situation of such children.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Declared Inhuman, barbaric and degrading to the girl child

At the second Pan African Summit on Children(Africa Fit for Children Summit) in Egypt, Ministers responsible for children’s affairs declared female genital mutilation inhuman, barbaric and degrading to the girl child. As such, there was a call for action for it to be abolished forthwith. Some countries had reservations that this practice was culturally acceptable and that some communities would not easily accept its immediate abolishing.

The worst thing about FGM is that elderly women who have gone through this practice at an early childhood stage are the ones who administer the barbaric act of circumcising young girls. They don’t seem bothered and do not show any remorse because they want to fulfill the cultural obligations. It is believed that female circumcision is done on girls so that they could not experience sexual gratification. This is also done to please their male partners during sexual encounter.

Female genital mutilation is common in the eastern, central and West African countries. Some African countries have take steps towards elimination of FGM.

In the United Kingdom the Prohibition of Female Circumcision Act of 1985 makes female circumcision, excision or infibulation (female genital mutilation (FGM)) an offence, except on specific physical and mental health grounds.

Effects of FGM on children

Available medical evidence indicates that FGM causes harm to those who experience it. The cutting of the female organs is a painful experience to the girls undergoing this process. There are reports of excessive bleeding sometimes leading to death of victims. In the UK a local authority may exercise its powers under s.47 of the Children Act 1989 if it has reason to believe that a child is likely to be or has been the subject of FGM.

Interventions to combat FGM

Local agencies that have a responsibility of protecting children should be alert to the possibility of female circumcision among the ethnic minority communities known to practice it. In local areas where there are communities or individuals who traditionally practice FGM, the focus should focus on a preventive strategy involving community education.
Development partners such as UNICEF should assist countries to develop plans and strategies geared towards the elimination of FGM.

Children should be sensitized and empowered to be on alert and report any suspects who are involved in carrying out FGM to the authorities.

What are your feelings about FGM?

Child Abuse and the Need for Compulsory Reporting

Compulsory reporting of child abuse matters is a necessary step to combat child abuse in communities. The current trend is that people choose to keep quiet or conceal information under the guise that the matter will be resolved internally. This has to stop...

Most child abuse occurs in the child's home, but a significant portion also occurs in organizations involving children, such as churches, schools, day care centers, and residential schools. There are four major categories of child abuse which seem to be more predominant in most communities and these are:

• neglect,
• physical abuse,
• psychological or emotional abuse,
• Sexual abuse.

There is growing public concern over the extent and severity of child abuse and neglect in Botswana. Apparently, in the recent past the number of reported cases of child abuses increasing rapidly. At the same time our child protection system is in disarray in combating child abuse. This situation is excarcebated by the lack of attention to the urgent needs of a large number of children who are at serious risk. It also puts many children at risk of being open to secondary abuse by the very structures which are intended to help them.

Ensuring protection of child rights and well-being is fundamental to the upbringing of our children. The government and other key stakeholders must commit to this cause. The full extent of the problem of child abuse and neglect in Botswana is still not known, as there has been no systematic interdisciplinary research in this area.

What is important to note is that there is growing problem of child abuse and neglect which is increasing and becoming more complex. The most disturbing part is the failure of caregivers, guardians, teachers, nurses and social workers to report cases of child abuse as they see them. Some caregivers or guardians collude with the perpetrators by exchanging gifts or payments for children under their care to be sexually abused. As such, they conceal vital information even when the matter has been brought before the courts of law. This leads to the culprits getting away with murder; most of them get discharged and acquitted.

On the basis of the foregoing it is imperative to impose compulsory reporting on those who are in the know. As any parent, caregiver, teacher, guardian or nurse who, without reasonable excuse, fails to report a case of child abuse or neglect that is known to him or her shall be held guilty of an offence and be liable to a reasonable fine or to prison term that could help in ensuring continuous reporting of child abuse and neglect.

We don’t know how people feel about this but we hope that this is necessary step to combat child abuse and neglect in the communities.

Discover Complex PSTD Child Abuse

In the recent years there has been a growing concern with the psychological effects of war on both adults and children in some of the African war torn countries such Darfur in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Children who witness killings, especially involving people close to them such as their parents or siblings, who see houses being destroyed, who experience the fear of attack, who become orphaned or separated from their families and loved ones, or who have to cope with the upheaval of seeking refuge away from their communities are likely to be affected in various ways.

Such experiences have a profound effect on the ways in which children perceive themselves and the world around them. This also affects how they feel, how they behave and how they relate to other people in society. This is known as the post traumatic stress disorders (PSTD).

Some researchers have done work with children attending pre-schools and observed a number of particularly striking factors:
- a preoccupation, sometimes almost an obsession, with war
- a dramatic effect on the colours used by children in their drawings, with flowers and suns coloured black .
- in their play, children displayed their reactions to war but their playing tended to be rigid and lacked the vital ingredient of normal play: the elaboration of their experience and not merely reactions to it
- increased aggression in play
- children perceived the end of the war in terms such as 'extermination' rather than reconciliation, peacemaking or conflict-resolution, suggesting that adults have not given children different ways of thinking about the war and the possible ways in which the conflict might be resolved.

In some cases many children are simply unable to play, having experienced violence, sudden disruptions and separation. It has been found that many parents normally display a reduced level of parental competence as a result of their experiences. Adults become alienated and experience difficulties in making social contacts with others. It is apparent that many of them experience loss of individuality, personal identity and 'personal space'.

The effects of war on children and their caregivers

The main effects of war on people are not so much the classical symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder but the indirect effects. These include excessive use of drugs and alcohol, increasing marital violence and child abuse, authoritarian, militaristic attitudes, and a widespread feeling of despair and hopelessness.

Another effect of war is that people become so preoccupied with their involvement with the conflict that there is little time for other things. Children may have little time for play and parents may have little time for their children.

Interventions to assist victims

The most critical intervention strategy involves focusing more directly on children and youth. This is so because young people are not only less affected than adults by the sense of hopelessness and despair but also tend to be less polarised in their views. For these reasons, children and young people can often be more readily mobilised to take action to transform their communities and to work towards reconciliation.

Learn about Child Abuse by Children and Young People

Work with children and young people who abuse others – including those who sexually abuse/offend – should recognize that such children are likely to have considerable needs themselves, and also that they may pose a significant risk of harm to other children.

Research has shown that children who abuse others may have suffered considerable disruption in their lives. They have been exposed to violence within the family, may have witnessed or been subject to physical or sexual abuse. They also have problems in their educational development, and may have committed other offences. Such children and young people are likely to be children in need. Some will in addition be suffering or at risk of significant harm, and may be in need of protection.

Children and young people who abuse others should be held responsible for their abusive behavior, whilst being identified and responded to in a way which meets their needs as well as protecting others.

Work with adult abusers has shown that many of them began committing abusing acts during childhood or adolescence. Furthermore it has been found that a significant number of them have been subjected to abuse themselves.

Early intervention with children and young people who abuse others may, therefore, play an important part in protecting the public by preventing the continuation or escalation of abusive behavior among them.

Three key principles should guide work with children and young people who abuse others: . there should be a co-ordinate approach on the part of youth justice, child welfare, education (including educational psychology) and health (including child and adolescent mental health) agencies;
. the needs of children and young people who abuse others should be considered separately from the needs of their victims; and
. an assessment should be carried out in each case, appreciating that these children may have considerable unmet developmental needs, as well as specific needs arising from their behavior.

In assessing a child or young person who abuses another, relevant considerations include: . the nature and extent of the abusive behaviors. In respect of sexual abuse, there are sometimes perceived to be difficulties in distinguishing between normal childhood sexual development and experimentation and sexually inappropriate or aggressive behavior.

Expert professional judgement may be needed, within the context of knowledge about normal child sexuality; . the context of the abusive behaviors; . the child’s development, and family and social circumstances; . needs for services, specifically focusing on the child’s harmful behavior as well as other significant needs; and the risks to self and others, including other children in the household, extended family, school, peer group or wider social network.

This risk is likely to be present unless: the opportunity to further abuse is ended, the young person has acknowledged the abusive behavior and accepted responsibility and there is agreement by the young abuser and his/her family to work with relevant agencies to address the problem.

What is 'child trafficking'?

Here’s a more detailed definition on child trafficking, for use by service providers.

Clarification is also made on what 'exploitation' means in the context of child trafficking...

Where a child is exploited in the broader sense (such as doing hazardous work, forced to miss school, working very long hours) this is not enough to define it as child trafficking, even if this work is linked to movement of the child. This relates rather to migration-related and exploitative forms of child labor, which is also an area needing priority attention.

Short definition: use this definition when it is not appropriate to define the term fully (e.g. because of available space) –A child has been trafficked if there was a transaction involving provision of the services of a child, or where the child has moved from elsewhere, whether by force or free will, and as a result is now being exploited.

Exploitation in this context means work in slave-like conditions (indicating that the child does not have control on whether to work) or the child being subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. A transaction is where someone receives payments or benefits to agree to another person being exploited.

The full definition or description of child trafficking follows below. Please use this definition at least in publications where trafficking is the focus or very relevant (except, possibly, in executive summaries).

Under international law, trafficking is a crime involving the movement of people and their exploitation. The movement may be voluntary or coerced; the relocation may be across borders or within a country.

Exploitation in this context means work in slave-like conditions or the child being subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. Exploitation can occur at the beginning, middle or end of the trafficking process, or at several points.

The fact is that, where there is movement resulting in exploitation, then trafficking has occurred. And those who have contributed to it – recruiters, middlemen, document providers, transporters, corrupt officials, employers and exploiters, service-providers – are traffickers.
ILO Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor classifies trafficking among “forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery” and hence a worst form of child labor to be eliminated as a matter of urgency. In practice, most organizations working to combat trafficking use the definition contained in the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Trans-national Organized Crime (known as the Palermo Protocol).

The Palermo Protocol defines trafficking as: “…the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.” Exploitation in this context means commercial sexual exploitation or work in slave-like conditions.

In the case of children (i.e. under 18 years of age) the Protocol further specifies, “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation shall be considered ‘trafficking in persons’ even if this does not involve any of the means set forth in the definition”.

In short, child trafficking in the context of child labor can be defined as follows: A child has been trafficked if there was a transaction involving provision of the services of a child, or where the child has moved from elsewhere, whether by force or free will, and as a result is now being exploited.

Exploitation in this context means work in slave-like conditions (thus indicating that the child does not have control on whether to work) or the child being subjected to commercial sexual exploitation. A transaction is where someone receives payments or benefits to agree to another person being exploited.

A child has been trafficked if the child has been moved within a country, or across borders, whe¬ther by force or not, with the purpose of labour exploitation. This is the case where the child's movement has rendered the child more vulnerable, facilitating the labour exploitation.
Labour exploitation means work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children. At its worst, it would include working in slave-like conditions or the child being subjected to commercial sexual exploitation or another worst form of child labour.

Children Involved in Prostitution: The # 1 Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Children involved in prostitution and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation should be treated primarily as the victims of abuse. As such, their needs should be given careful assessment because they may be in need of welfare services and most probably protection from further abuse. Their problem is often hidden from view. Social workers should actively enquire into the extent of the problem and should not assume that it is not a local issue.

In Botswana a Discussion Document on Child Labour (2006) stated that a Strategic Planning Workshop was held in 2004 as part of the Total Elimination of Child Labour (TECL) process, which highlighted several key areas of concern as:

• The commercial sexual exploitation of children, especially through transactional sex related survival, arranged child marriages and children prostituted on the streets, in bars, at truck stops and in hotels;

• Child trafficking with a focus on the internal movement of children for domestic labour in slave-like conditions; bonded labour especially of San children where the child’s family is “owned” by the cattle post owner and orphans forced to work to retain tenure of their home;

• Children used by adults to commit crimes; and

• Hazardous work done by children which includes collecting water and wood over long distances, working on the streets and working in agriculture where children may be exposed to particular hazards.

The document also stated that the Urban Youth Project interviewed 51 commercial sex workers in the city of Gaborone and found that half of them aged 15-24 years and a quarter of these girls were aged 12-14 years. Most of these young girls had been recruited into this work by friends or immediate family members at ages as young as 9 years.

The identification of a child involved in prostitution, or at risk of being drawn into prostitution, should always trigger the agreed local procedures to ensure the child’s safety and welfare, and to enable the police to gather evidence about abusers and coercers. The strong links that have been identified between prostitution and substance misuse should be borne in mind in the development of protocols.

Children involved in prostitution may be difficult to reach, and under very strong pressure to remain in prostitution. They may be fearful of being involved with the police or social services, and may respond best initially to informal contact from health or voluntary sector outreach workers. Gaining the child’s trust and confidence is vital if he or she is to be helped to be safe and well, and diverted from prostitution.

Child Pornography and the Internet

The Internet is increasingly becoming a significant tool in the distribution of child pornography. Adults are now using the Internet to try to establish contact with children with a view to ‘grooming’ them for inappropriate or abusive relationships.

As part of their role in preventing abuse and neglect, the government should consider activities that are geared towards raising awareness among members of the public about the safe use of the Internet by children by disseminating essential information through social workers and teachers to parents, in relation to both school and home-based use of computers by children.

Where somebody is identified to have placed child pornography on the Internet, or accessed child pornography, the police should investigate whether that individual is also involved in the active abuse of children. In the process the police should check the individual’s access to children, within the family and employment contexts and in other settings (e.g. work with children as a volunteer). Where there are particular concerns about one or more specific children being involved, there may be a need to carry out through investigations in respect of those children.

Discover the Effects of Bullying in schools and other Child care institutions

Bullying is common in schools and other institutions of child care.

Bullying is defined as a deliberately hurtful behavior, usually repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those bullied to defend themselves. The three main types of bullying are:
• physical which involves hitting, kicking, theft etc.
• verbal which involves racist or homophobic remarks, threats, name calling etc.
• and finally emotional which involves isolating an individual from the activities and social acceptance of their peer group.

The damage inflicted by bullying is frequently underestimated but it can cause considerable distress to children. Subsequently, that affects their health and development or, at the extreme, causes them significant harm including self-harm which may even be suicidal. All settings in which children are provided with services such as schools or where children are living away from home such as child care institutions should have in place rigorously enforced anti-bullying strategies.

Children, particularly those living away from home, are also vulnerable to abuse by their own peers. Such abuse should always be taken as seriously as abuse perpetrated by an adult. It should be subject to the same child protection procedures as those applied in respect of any child who is suffering, or at risk of suffering significant harm from an adverse source.

A significant proportion of sexual abuses are committed by teenagers and, on some occasions, by younger children. People working in a residential setting need clear guidance and training to identify the difference between consenting and abusive, appropriate or exploitative peer relationships. They should not rule out some abusive sexual behaviors as ‘normal’ between young people and should not develop high thresholds before taking action.

Article 19 of the United Convention on the Rights of the Child provides that the government must do everything it can to protect children from parents and other people including other children who hurt them. As such, the government must try to protect children from all kinds of physical, emotional, verbal and mental violence, injury or abuse (including sexual abuse) and bad treatment.

Discover Religion's Real Child Abuse

Here's religions' real child abuse at its best...

This is just a quick warning from Ausi Olivia Mogotsi on the 27 October 2008. She says she was watching Motswako on SABC2 yesterday at 9:30 and they had this woman who had a child aged 17 and in grade 10. Few months back apparently there was a black Mercedes Kompressor which visited one of the schools in Soweto and distributed pamphlets which had a Satanism logo and quotes all over it.

Kids were told to come to church with them and they will get rich in no time, have cars and houses they always dreamt of for their parents and so on. Now, the woman on the show yesterday has had experience with her beloved daughter who just recently passed away.

This is the story:

Ntomb'kayise told her mother that she has joined this special church which will make them rich and will be attending every after school. Of course just like any other mothers her mom was happy to let her go to church because it's a good thing anyway. But few weeks down she came back home with necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings which had a strange image on it.

Still her mother didn't notice anything because every time when she was asked where she got she would say from a friend. This went on and on until the little girl was told that in order to get rich and be a full time member of the church she must sacrifice with her mother's or one of her sibling's lives.

That's when she opened up to her parents and told them everything they do in this "special church" and she told them that the only way out is to pray for her because she was tired of being a Satanist.Her parents still didn't take it seriously, as time went on and she started being afraid sleeping in her bedroom which she ended up sleeping with her parents. She would wake them up at 00:00 every night to pray.

Four days before she died, she told her parents that whatever she told them was true and she wanted to prove it to them. One morning she woke up with swollen eyes and bruises all over her body. Her mom asked her what happened and this is what she had to say "See when you woke up to pray, I woke up and went to church", her mom was surprised because she was next to them all night. She replied and said "Yes you right, my body was here but my spirit wasn't here and the reason I am so bruised is because I didn't want to go with "THEM" today and "THEY" beat me and forced me to go with them.

While her parents were still surprised she continued and said we wake up every night at 00:00 to go and cause accidents on the road so we can drink people's blood. She asked her parents when last they saw her drinking tea, water or Juice. Her parents actually thought about and said you haven't been drinking any of that for the past few months and she said exactly because when she's thirsty she has to drink blood only nothing else.

To cut the story short, a day before she committed suicide she told her mom that the church have given her only one day to kill her mom or one of her siblings. Her parents took her to church to pray for her but it was too late, that night she committed suicide by hanging herself with the shoe laces as she couldn't take her mother's life so she decided to take hers.

GUYS PLEASE THIS IS NOT JUST A STORY THE MOTHER WAS CRYING ON TV AND WANTED TO TELL US AS PARENTS THAT THE SATANISM THING IS REAL AND SHE HAS EXPERIENCED IT. SO PLEASE WARN YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO ARE STILL AT SCHOOL NEVER TO ACCEPT PAMPHLETS FROM ANYONE ESPECIALLY THE ONE'S THAT PROMISES THEM NICE THINGS. NOTHING COMES FOR FREE IN THIS WORLD YOU WORK FOR IT.

She said we must look out for the following signs from our brothers andsisters: Withdrawal from school work, going to unknown churches, forgetting stuff more often, when you shout they'll never say anything to you except "I KNOW" (apparently its not them its this Satanism thing talking), Sleeping a lot (as this girl said they wake up in the middle of the night and cause accidents) so obviously they feel tired most of the time.

PLEASE, PLEASE LETS WARN THE KIDS TO LOOK OUT FOR THESE THINGS. WE ALL WANT TO BE RICH AND HAVE EVERYTHING BUT DEFINITELY NOT THIS WAY AND WE CANNOT HAVE EVERYTHING IN LIFE. SOMETHINGS YOU CAN AND SOME YOU CAN'T.