Never in the history of our country has the girl-child been as vulnerable to abuse as today. A few weeks ago, it emerged through the media that sexual abuse of minors had taken a toll on a small settlement near Good Hope. The revelation from these unfortunate incidents is that young girls of various ages ranging from nine years to 12 have been abused sexually. The reports allege that at least three adolescents have fallen pregnant as a result of the abuse. At a time the world is commemorating 16 days of activism against gender based violence on women and children, this is a sad development indeed. Sunday November the 25th marked the international day for the elimination of violence against women and children. However, weeks before, the nation was faced with yet another horri? c case of a suspected rapist who ended the life of a young woman after attacking her home in Gaborone’s Phase 4. A number of women have since surfaced as rape victims who fell prey to the same suspect. Thankfully the suspect is now behind bars awaiting trial.
Events in Goodhope boggle the mind. What adult person in his right state of mind would lure a nine- year-old for the purpose of sexual grati?cation? Not only have our moral values been eroded as a society, but we are at a point where perverts are on the loose. A girl-child cannot consent to sexual intercourse because at her young age she cannot distinguish between a ‘yes’ and ‘no’. It is morally and legally wrong for an adult to take advantage of children’s submissive gestures to exploit them sexually. Such terrible abuse is more often the ?rst step towards destroying a child’s future. Children abused sexually are exposed not only to possible pregnancy at an early age but are also at the risk of contracting the HIV/ AIDS virus.
Children are the future and their wellbeing should be a main concern for all. In this regard it is our clarion call to Batswana to actively take the welfare of all children at heart. This requires those witnessing heinous crimes committed against children not to turn a blind eye. Moreover, the crusade against sexual violence on children should not be mere lip service. Within our society, and perhaps for marital convenience, it is common for mothers to excuse husbands who abuse their children. It is also very common for an aberrant family member or uncle to get away with abusing a child simply because parents do not want to soil a family’s good name for fear of public embarrassment. No amount of social stigma is worth a child’s life. As such all cases involving indecent assault of minors, rape and abuse of minors should be unpardonable and should be reported to authorities as a way of avoiding recurrence. Hiding being ? imsy reasons for fear of disclosure will never be a deterrent. Meanwhile, Childline Botswana has also published results of a research study which revealed the occurrence of child labour in the North-East District. Although the sample size and length of the research (2010-2012) was limited, they unearthed enough information to leave the average Motswana unsettled about how innocent children are being abused on our watch. These children are usually from poor backgrounds and are enticed with money, gifts and food by those who should know better.
Traditionally Botswana has always been a country that believes a child is raised by the community. By ignoring the abuse of children, neighbours, family, and society are failing these children. We can no longer afford to stand by and watch as children are molested to a point where they are damaged psychologically. These same young people are supposed to be the future leaders. It is for this reason that we commend efforts by Childline, Gender Links, and UNICEF in their quest to educate the nation and advocate against gender based violence and abuse on women and children.
