The African Union (AU) has sharply criticized Botswana for what it views as inadequate measures to protect children from rising cases of murder and fatal road accidents.
The African Union’s Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child indicated in a report released recently that its rebuke came in response to increasing concerns over the safety of minors, with particular emphasis on the deaths of children in the country.
The AU’s Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child acknowledged Botswana’s legal framework for the protection of children but highlighted the pressing need for more effective measures. “The Committee appreciates that under the Children’s Act (2009) and other laws, a child in the State Party cannot be sentenced to death, nor can they be sentenced to life imprisonment,” the AU stated. However, it expressed deep concern about the rising number of child fatalities, particularly as a result of murder and road accidents. The Committee also recommended that Botswana ensures that specific measures are in place to effectively protect children’s rights before, during and after the election periods (including, among others, during the election campaigns and electoral process.
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