Protecting children and their rights

The phenomenon of child abuse is prevalent all over the world. It is important therefore for parents to do their best to protect their children from any form of abuse. Child abuse ranges from physical to emotional abuse and this can have long lasting psychological consequences to the abused child who might be affected to the extent of behavioral change which might lead to development of a criminal mind which can lead to disastrous consequences which can lead to failure in life and disturbing other people’s lives through temperaments, mistrusting people and general inferiority complexes.

Children are human beings in their initial stages of development, as such, it is important to protect the child’s rights. Ever child has the right to basic nutrition shelter and basic health care services and children should be protected from maltreatment, neglect and abuse. As already alluded to children are human beings growing to become adults in the society and should be treated with the humanity they deserve. This is important because then they will be responsible leaders and responsible citizens who will also be able to nature the future generations. Children must be treated equally and without discrimination of any nature whether based gender intellect or any other form of discrimination.

Every child should be afforded the opportunity to play and participate in activities which suit their age and development stages and abilities. All children must be afforded the opportunity to take part in their culture especially their native cultures like the Tswana culture and any other culture observed in the Constitution of Botswana. It is every child’s right to have a name a birth certificate education that is, to go to school in order to develop their minds whether or not they pass at school or fail is immaterial. It is imperative to take a child through secondary education. It enhances their reasoning capacity and contributes towards mental development to the benefit of the whole community. It helps social interfacing of the child and prevents certain crimes.

The best interests of the child are paramount it means that they can not be summarily rolled back to place certain other interests in replacement of such children’s rights. Matters relating to children will always come first and it is the yardstick to measure whether the children’s rights are being fully observed. Parents must therefore protect their children not because they fear the law but to fulfill their natural obligation of loving and caring for their children. Parents must provide financially towards the wellness of their children in order to properly take care of their children.

It is an obligation for every parent to provide a safe home for the child to live in and being cherished.

It is the duty of parents to protect their children from child abuse particularly if the child is being bullied ill-treated and dehumanized by other children or any other person by calling the child ugly names which do body shaming like shortie, big head, thick lips, fatty, stick or toothpick for the slender and disliked nicknames like monkey chimpanzee, baboon etc, even on social media platforms such as Facebook Instagram and WhatsApp; verbally abused and threatened with violence. Children need to be protected from sexual abuse, sexual violation and rape. In homes where there are instances of family violence, such should be reported to the police or to social workers who can intervene in order to preserve the dignity and well being of the child and for securing the child’s future.

Every parent should see to it that they protect their children to secure the well being of their children. It is a criminal offence to abuse children and as such if parents notice any form of abuse, they must deal with it or report it to the police. Sometimes it becomes necessary to effect criminal procedures to achieve justice for the affected child. The High Court is the upper guardian of all minors, it will definitely step in to protect the lives of all children.