Outgoing youth leader decries slow implementation
Baboki Kayawe | Wednesday December 10, 2014 14:50
She says this has stifled progress in resolving children’s issues. The 16-year-old said the situation was fuelled in part by inadequate resource allocation towards children’s predicaments, though there was ‘willpower’ from all quarters. The forum brought together about 160 child representatives from all 16 administrative districts, who also took part in the election of new members of the CCF.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Third Consultative Forum held yesterday, Loeto said although she was descending from the Forum’s throne, she was aware that a lot still had to be done to address issues that affect children. She, however, acknowledged that the establishment of the CCF in 2010 as informed by the Children’s Act of 2009, was a step in the right direction. She noted that children’s issues were broad and entailed several processes, and thus interventions could never be said to be adequate.
“I think it can never be said that enough has been done when addressing children’s welfare and rights, because these issues require a lot and continuous attention from the society,” she said.
Loeto said a critical issue that she tackled during her tenure was children’s participation and engagement in decision-making, adding that resources ought to be channeled towards these.
She added that apart from exposure to national and regional agendas on children’s welfare, there was a pressing need for local forums such as the CCF to engage more with the international community to gain worldwide perspective on the subject.
Loeto further said her tenure at the helm of CCF had moulded her into a responsible young leader who pursued an exemplary lifestyle. She also said she had interacted with other children and youth nationwide, and these experiences had sharpened her for future leadership roles.
“As an ordinary child equally exposed to issues such as peer pressure and other societal ills facing many children today, having held this position has added value to my professional and personal growth. The platform has also presented me with many opportunities,” she said.
Loeto added that she would also like to see various stakeholders involved in children’s issues, amplifying action and implementation, as opposed to having execution of recommendations lagging behind for a long time.
The deputy chief of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) division in the Department of Social Protection Unit, Gomotsanang Manne, told the gathering that the CCF had identified problematic issues, hence priority areas, when dealing with children’s issues in Botswana; early or cultural marriages, poverty, abuse of technology, truancy, child abuse characterised by neglect and sexual abuse, drugs and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy as well as inadequate safe recreational facilities.
“Poor parenting skills, indiscipline amongst children, inter generational relationships and discrimination by economic class is a challenge,” Manne said.
She also said the Children’s Act of 2009 was disseminated to different stakeholders for increased awareness and accelerated implementation of the Act. “Guidelines and standards of operation for the CCF have been developed and will be disseminated to districts. The purpose of the guidelines is to guide operation of the CCF at national level and at district level,” she added.
The mandate of the CCF is to discuss issues affecting the education, health, safety or general wellbeing of children. The forum makes recommendations to the National Children’s Council.
The CCF is comprised of ten child representatives from each district. The term of office is two years, but makes provision for re- election if a member is under the age of 18.