Definition of an orphan
An orphan is a child under 18 years who has lost one or both parents.
A social orphan is a child who has been abandoned and his or her parents cannot be traced.
Assistance given to Orphans
Once they have been identified and assessed orphans are provided with food, clothing, educational necessities, shelter, protection and care. Food basket ranges between P216.60 and P350.00.
Orphans who Turn 18 years of age and exit the Programme
Persons who exit the Orphan Care Programme after attaining the age of 18 years should be immediately assessed by the social workers to ensure continuum of care. This should be a smooth transition which enhance their livelihoods and safeguard them from any consequential trauma that could arise from any delays in giving them due care and support.
These persons should be given a full support particularly in relation to scholastic materials to facilitate their schooling and enhance their positive development. Social workers should make sure that there are no delays or gaps whatsoever in providing them with the necessary services timely under the pretext that they are still awaiting assessment. Any unwarranted delays could only jeopardise their schooling and subject them to emotional distress. There should be no disparity between the package they received under the Orphan care programme and the one they receive under the Destitute Persons Policy because that would traumatise them further
Councils should facilitate a continuum of care for persons exiting the Orphan Care programme without any delay.
Formulate and review policies: Development of the National Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable children
The national Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable children intends to provide guidance to service providers and other stakeholders on the care and support to orphans and vulnerable children.
It also will ensure provision of optimal care and support through coordination, planning, management and implementation.
Drafting of the policy document and work commenced in 2007 and the final draft which was completed in September, 2008 is awaiting passing of the Children’s Bill by Parliament. Allocation for the Policy was P 408, 250.00. Once the Bill is passed in parliament, drafting of the Cabinet memorandum will commence. The Plan is to start implementation of the new Policy by end of 2009/10.
Formulate and review policies: Review of the Children’s Act (1981)
The Children’s Act of 1981 was reviewed to ensure Botswana’s commitment to the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. This was to ensure human rights based approach to law reform in children’s legislation.
The Review was also intended to ensure the involvement of families and communities in the protection of the well-being of children.
P 200,000.00 was allocated for the drafting of the Children’s Bill and work commenced in 2007. A Cab memo was submitted to Cabinet in December 2008. Publication of draft Children’s Bill in the Government Gazette was on 09 January 2009. The Bill was tabled before Parliament on 02 February 2009. Further instructions on Child Protection Regulations to the Attorney General’s chambers are being drafted.
Hope this has been informative...
Showing posts with label orphans and vulnerable children. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orphans and vulnerable children. Show all posts
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Here are Various Catergories of Children who need your support..
There is national concern about the growing numbers of vulnerable children and the need to protect them, through a coordinated guided response in Botswana. The National Situation Analysis on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (2007) identified 30.6% of children as vulnerable due to living in poverty, while other children struggle to grow up in families prone to internal conflicts, alcoholism, violence, abuse and poor parenting skills.
We have situations where children are also heading households and living in households headed by their young brothers or sisters. Other groups of vulnerable children are those who are displaced or refugees or who have parents in prison or detention
These children are unlikely to enjoy their rights and may even be driven onto the streets to support themselves. Children with unmet emotional needs are also particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse.
Let us define some of the common terms used to define the various categories of children in Botswana:
A child is a person below the age of 18 years.
‘Orphan’
International definition
An orphan is a child below the age of 18 years who has lost one or both parents
Botswana programme definition
“an ‘orphan’ is a child below 18 years who has lost one (single parents) or two (married couples) biological or adoptive parents. Married couples include those married in civil or traditional marriages”
‘social orphan’
Botswana programme definition
‘Social orphans’ are those abandoned or dumped or whose parents cannot be traced”
‘vulnerable child’
A vulnerable child is a person below the age of 18 years who is in any situation or circumstance which is or is likely to adversely affect the child’s physical, emotional, psychological or general well-being, which prevents the enjoyment of his or her rights, and who is in need of protection.
‘A child in need of protection’
A child in need of protection is a vulnerable child under the age of 18 years and includes a child who is temporarily or permanently deprived of parental care and support; or who is temporarily or permanently deprived of his or her family environment and care; or heads or lives in a child headed household; or displays behaviour which cannot be managed by the parent, guardian or other person; or suffers from physical/mental disability or any form of chronic illness; or is involved in work which is harmful to his or her emotional, physical, psychological, social or educational development or well-being; or suffers/lives in abusive circumstances; or lives in circumstances calculated to cause or conduce to the child’s seduction, prostitution or corruption; or is in contact or conflict with the law.
‘Child-headed household’
A child headed household is a family headed by a person under the age of 18 years, in the absence of his or her parent (s) or other adult family member to provide care for the children in the household.
Let's discuss support to these children later...
We have situations where children are also heading households and living in households headed by their young brothers or sisters. Other groups of vulnerable children are those who are displaced or refugees or who have parents in prison or detention
These children are unlikely to enjoy their rights and may even be driven onto the streets to support themselves. Children with unmet emotional needs are also particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse.
Let us define some of the common terms used to define the various categories of children in Botswana:
A child is a person below the age of 18 years.
‘Orphan’
International definition
An orphan is a child below the age of 18 years who has lost one or both parents
Botswana programme definition
“an ‘orphan’ is a child below 18 years who has lost one (single parents) or two (married couples) biological or adoptive parents. Married couples include those married in civil or traditional marriages”
‘social orphan’
Botswana programme definition
‘Social orphans’ are those abandoned or dumped or whose parents cannot be traced”
‘vulnerable child’
A vulnerable child is a person below the age of 18 years who is in any situation or circumstance which is or is likely to adversely affect the child’s physical, emotional, psychological or general well-being, which prevents the enjoyment of his or her rights, and who is in need of protection.
‘A child in need of protection’
A child in need of protection is a vulnerable child under the age of 18 years and includes a child who is temporarily or permanently deprived of parental care and support; or who is temporarily or permanently deprived of his or her family environment and care; or heads or lives in a child headed household; or displays behaviour which cannot be managed by the parent, guardian or other person; or suffers from physical/mental disability or any form of chronic illness; or is involved in work which is harmful to his or her emotional, physical, psychological, social or educational development or well-being; or suffers/lives in abusive circumstances; or lives in circumstances calculated to cause or conduce to the child’s seduction, prostitution or corruption; or is in contact or conflict with the law.
‘Child-headed household’
A child headed household is a family headed by a person under the age of 18 years, in the absence of his or her parent (s) or other adult family member to provide care for the children in the household.
Let's discuss support to these children later...
Sunday, November 16, 2008
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.
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.
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.
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.
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