16 June 2014: BONELA CHALLENGES PARENTS AND ALL LEADERS TO BE EXEMPLARY THIS JUNE 16

The Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA); will join the nation and other Member States of the African Union in commemorating June 16 as a remembrance of the 1976 Soweto uprisings.

As we commemorate this day, which came about as a result of the 1976 young people and school children, making an issue of what they felt was an uninspired education system at the time. Although the uprising had a heartbreaking outcome, it contributed greatly to the 1991 resolution by the African Union to designate 16 June, as the ‘Day of the African Child’, BONELA challenges all leaders and parents to take their leadership role seriously in protecting children against abuses that hinder their education, to facilitate children’s development and survival in order to access education and to ensure that children are active participants in realizing their dreams and rights. 

While Botswana prides itself with progress made in education- as there has been rapid progress toward universal primary education, the quality of education is often somewhat lacking. School performance around the country has dropped; school infrastructure is dilapidated; working conditions for service providers in schools leaves a lot to be desired; children are experiencing sexual abuses; parents are passive in their children’s school work and/or life. All these challenges are a clear indication that we still have a long way to go in realizing fundamental human rights for children in this country. This may have been the sentiment behind this year’s theme: “Child friendly, quality, free & compulsory education for all children in Africa.” BONELA, therefore, calls on parents and all leaders (community leaders, religious leaders, politicians, policy makers, service providers-educationists, psychosocial support, health and legal providers) to desist from lip service and be accountable in all aspects- in all policy formulations and laws as well as in the programmes designed to facilitate access and utility, and in creating a conducive and just environment that facilitates learning.

Young people and children are the future, hence, they need to be nurtured today, so be responsible and let your contribution count in making young people and children’s rights a reality!! 

For more information; please contact BONELA on 393 2516