The secret hell of child sex abuse
Baboki Kayawe | Friday May 13, 2016 15:23
The nation is still reeling in shock following a week of stunning allegations involving politicians, a purported cover-up bid, a young school girl and a pregnancy.
Just when Batswana thought they had heard the worst in councillor Kemmonye Amon’s admission to impregnating the senior secondary school, reports from another newspaper suggested that a Member of Parliament has impregnated a 17-year-old girl.
These two cases and the thousands of others that escape public scrutiny due to the secrecy with which society handles sexual abuse of children, must not be viewed and debated along party lines.
This is clearly a non-partisan issue as legislator Dorcas Makgato and many others have commented. This speaks to the entire nation; it questions our values as a people and our moral fibre as custodians of these children.
What happened to unifying mantras resonating collectivism in child-rearing such as “it takes the whole village to raise a child?” Where do we stand morally when in the midst of escalating teenage pregnancies and school drop-outs, HIV/AIDS infection rates and disheartening school performances, leaders are at the centre stage of these controversies?
In an impassioned missive to all men sexually abusing children, Dow ordered the men to take their hands off our children! Dow, who has written extensively on sexual molestation of schoolgirls by powerful men, especially in poor communities, demanded “a little regard for the lives of those weaker than you – weaker physically, weaker financially, weaker status wise.”
“One of you, Cllr. Kemmonye Amon, a councillor from Sebina, has publicly admitted to having undermined my ministry’s efforts to give every Motswana child access to education. He has, according to media reports, made a 16 (17?)-year-old girl pregnant. He is just one of you, for there were 407 girls who dropped out of school due to pregnancy, in the past 12 months.”
Dow’s emphasis on cases where a pregnancy has resulted has already been interpreted by some as approval of such abuse. However, her emotionally-charged letter supremely questions what society and (some) men have become – monsters!
“Some of these girls were young enough to be your children, perhaps even your grandchildren Cllr.”
Amon is not alone, but it was his activities of about five or so months ago that have lit the passions of people, young and old, across political, religious and educational divides – people who are saying, “enough is enough!”
Enough is enough. Childline Botswana programmes officer Olebile Machete agrees.
“It should be appreciated that child sexual offences are very secretive in nature and it is our belief that most such incidents are unreported, “ he says in an interview.
Machete’s office is very concerned about the prevalence of child sexual abuse in the country.
“Just a couple of weeks ago, there were reports that teenage pregnancy had become a major problem. In addition, there are now reports that the Ministry of Education is emphasising safe sex rather than abstinence. This would indicate that sexual abuse is an escalating problem in the country and perhaps there is need for us to refocus our interventions.”
In 2012, through an International Labour Organisation-financed project in the Francistown area, Childline made startling discoveries on commercial sexual exploitation of children.
“This is where older men (mostly, although there were a few cases of women), use money to obtain consensual sex from young girls. The striking similarity in these cases was that almost all of these children came from poor families and had to resort to sex for financial support,” adds Machete.
Furthermore, Machete says at times this happens with parental knowledge and assent.
“That being said, it is our belief that reported cases of child sexual abuse constitute only the tip of the iceberg. What is further disturbing is the outcome of such reported cases with less than 50 percent ending in a conviction,” he says.
In fact, some of the cases are never even prosecuted. Last year alone, Childline registered a total 70 reports of child sexual abuse either by telephone, walk-in clients or referrals.
In addition, there exists a disturbing discrepancy between the official age of consent (16) and the Children Act’s definition of a child (anyone under 18).
The debate on this discrepancy has come out very strongly in the wake of the latest controversies.
Machete is of the view that although the Children’s Act takes precedence over all other laws that concern children, it is important that all statutes dealing with children’s issues (not just the Penal Code) are harmonised to ensure consistency in application and avoidance of confusion among various service providers.
“The question you may ask is why us? Why now?” Dow rhetorically asks. Tuduetso Kelapile, UNICEF Botswana’s Head of Advocacy and Communication says the organisation has been working with the Botswana Police Service on the issue of child sex abuse.
“A Training of Trainers Manual on juvenile justice and child friendly processes and procedures has been developed,” she explains.
“One of the modules of this training manual spells out the role of police officers in the implementation of the Children’s Act.
“Subsequently, station commanders and selected in-service police officers have been trained.”
Kelapile says culture plays a role in sexual abuse, as well as in cases not being reported.
“Addressing social norms and harmful practices that perpetuate sexual abuse of children requires collective efforts and true commitment, honouring tradition but ensuring the protection of our children.
“However, it is important to remember that even for those cases that go unreported these children are still victims, they still suffer and they need support.”
We share Dow’s concern and hence we borrow from her: “We think there comes a time when rot can no longer be ignored. Perhaps that time is now.”
How Childline receives cases
Childline’s programmes head Olebile Machete explains the process of receiving and dealing with sexual abuse cases involving children
“Our programmes are such that, when we receive reports of sexual abuse, we assist both the child and their family through the criminal justice process, including accompanying the child to a community service centre to report the matter if it has not already been reported. If it has we follow it up with the responsible office, especially if the clients are not happy with the service they have received.
“We thereafter offer the child and the family continuing counselling to help them deal with the situation. Furthermore, if the matter goes to trial, we prepare the child to give testimony in court as well as accompanying them during their court appearance. However, when a matter has not been reported to Childline but is in the public domain, such as the media, we contact the relevant structures within that particular community and evaluate how the situation is being addressed.
“This is due to the fact that, as a child protection NGO, any issue concerning child abuse/exploitation in Botswana is of concern to us. We contact area social workers and/or child protection committees who then give us feedback on the matter and indicate the type of assistance they require.
“With regard to the current situation. we have contacted the Social and Community Development Office office in Sebina for an appraisal of the matter. We are still awaiting a formal response and, in the absence of any substantive information beyond media reports, there is nothing we can do.
“We, however, trust that the relevant authorities will judiciously attend to the matter if there is need to do so. As usual, if we are required to intervene in the child’s best interest, we will do so.”