The Botswana police declared zero tolerance for child abuse.
- In two years, the Botswana Police Service handled more than 2 000 child abuse cases.
- Child abuse carries a maximum of two years in jail and a maximum fine, equivalent to R25 000.
- The Child Rights International Network ranked Botswana 35th out of 197 countries on access to justice for children.
Between 2020 and 2022, the Botswana Police Service (BPS) said it dealt with more than 2 300 abuse cases of children below the age of 15.
In issuing the statistics, BPS said: “In recent times, (police) have been inundated with cases of child negligence and ill-treatment by their parents.”
Because of a sharp increase in these cases in the past two years, the police declared zero tolerance for child abuse and said it would “intensify on defaulters of this crime”.
The police added that, under the country’s Children’s Act, a person found guilty could spend up to two years in jail or be fined up to R25 000.
According to the police, child abuse entails a parent, relative or custodian of a child failing to provide adequate food, healthcare, clothing, shelter, and exposure to conditions that cause the child’s mental, psychological and physical stress.
Last month, a couple from Block 6 in Gaborone appeared in court on child abuse charges.
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The husband was charged with rape, while his wife faced charges of exposing the child to torture and failing to report the abuse.
A United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) report – titled, Violence Against Children – said that, in Botswana about one in 10 females (10.4%) and nearly one in 20 males (4.1), aged 13-17, experienced sexual violence.
The report identified the incapacitation of social workers as the main challenge because they were the first to know about child abuse issues in communities. Hence, some of the cases were unreported to the police.
In 2020, the Child Rights International Network ranked Botswana 35th out of 197 countries on access to justice for children.
The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The stories produced through the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements that may be contained herein do not reflect those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
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