Mohwasa stresses need to protect children

The Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa has emphasised the importance of protecting children from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Speaking at the launch of the Child Friendly Policing documentary in Gaborone Monday, Mr Mohwasa said abused and neglected children often suffer long-term consequences that affected educational attainment, mental health, social cohesion and productivity. “Protecting children is therefore both a moral obligation and a strategic investment in our nation’s future,” he said, adding that Child Justice Service Centres represented a critical response aimed at strengthening protection and support for children.

Mr Mohwasa said the centres were designed to provide dignified, sensitive and professional support to child victims. He noted that government remained committed to human rights and a child-centred approach through strengthening police capacity, improving infrastructure and enhancing inter-sectoral collaboration. He emphasised that security and human rights were not competing priorities but mutually reinforcing pillars of protection.

“In line with this mission, we have strengthened the capacity of the police service through specialised training in child sensitivity techniques. We are also improving infrastructure to ensure that processes are private, safe and appropriate, while enhancing collaboration between the police, social services, health and education sectors to ensure a coordinated and survivor-centred response,” he said. However, Mr Mohwasa said government could not address child protection challenges alone, stressing that vigilance, community involvement and partnerships were essential.

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He said the success of these initiatives would be measured through increased reporting of abuse cases, improved case resolution and a measurable reduction in incidents of abuse. The ultimate goal, he added, was to build a culture that prioritises children’s well-being, dignity and justice. UNICEF Botswana Country Representative, Dr Kimanzi Mutengi, said a child-friendly justice system required commitment, training and empathy from all stakeholders.

“Botswana has promising initiatives such as police stations with child-friendly units, officers trained in child psychology and partnerships with health workers and traditional leaders that provide holistic support,” he said. Dr Mutengi noted that across the region, countries were implementing innovative approaches to strengthen child protection. In Malawi, for example, every school has a designated police officer responsible for handling reports of abuse.

He explained that suggestion boxes were placed in schools where suspected cases of abuse could be reported confidentially. The police officer visits the school monthly to review the reports and determine whether cases should be addressed at school level or escalated to higher authorities.

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