form 3 notes, edited version 2-1.docx

**[1. THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS]** **What are human rights?** Human rights are basic entitlements and freedoms that belong to every person in the world. They are also known as principles of fairness, justice and freedoms that all people are entitled to. Human rights apply to everyone regardless...

**[1. THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS]** **What are human rights?** Human rights are basic entitlements and freedoms that belong to every person in the world. They are also known as principles of fairness, justice and freedoms that all people are entitled to. Human rights apply to everyone regardless of their sex, age, race, religion and nationality. **Where are human rights documented?** **Human rights are written in a document called The Universal Declaration of Human rights (The UDHR). The UDHR contains 30 human rights articles.** **Who came up with the UDHR?** **The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was written by a commission on Human rights set by the United Nations. In 1948, the UN general assembly approved the UDHR.** **Why was it necessary to have the UDHR?** **The UDHR was necessary to protect the rights of people because during the Second** World War, millions of people lost their homes and lives. Abuses and unbelievable acts of cruelty were committed against various groups of people including the Jewish people in Germany, prisoners of war in Asia and many innocent civilians. To ensure that human rights are universally protected, the United Nations urged all countries to adopt the UDHR when making constitutional laws. **Some articles of the UDHR and reasons for upholding them** +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **[Article 1]** | | | | **All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. | | They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards | | one another in the spirit of brotherhood.** | +=======================================================================+ | **Explanation of this human right** | | | | **This article identifies** freedom and equality as every person's | | birth right which cannot be taken away. It states that people are | | equal in dignity, meaning that every person is worthy of respect. | | Being equal in rights means every person has the same human rights. | | It also indicates that people are given the ability to reason and are | | also given a conscience. A conscience is a person's moral sense of | | right and wrong. Having the ability to reason and having conscience | | should enable people to treat others in morally acceptable ways. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Reasons for upholding this human right** | | | | - To encourage people to treat others equally and with respect and | | dignity. | | | | | | | | - To encourage individuals and governments to act in morally | | acceptable ways. | | | | - To give individuals a sense of worth, that they are valuable | | simply because they are human beings. | | | | - To protect individuals from discrimination, abuse and | | exploitation, especially by governments and individuals who have | | power. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Article 2** | | | | **Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in | | this declaration, without distinction of any kind such as race, | | colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national | | or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no | | distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, | | jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to | | which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non self- | | governing or under any other limitation or sovereignty.** | +=======================================================================+ | **Explanation of this human right** | | | | This article acknowledges that people and countries are different in | | many ways. However, the article requires that these differences | | should not prevent people from enjoying their rights and freedoms | | stated in the UDHR. Human rights are for all, without discrimination | | of any kind. This article promotes the principles of equality and | | non-discrimination. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Reasons for upholding this human right** | | | | - It protects all human beings from suffering as a result of being | | denied their human rights. | | | | - It protects individuals from discrimination. | | | | - It encourages tolerance and respect for all human beings | | regardless of their differences. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Article 4** | | | | **No one should be held in slavery or servitude; slavery or the slave | | trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.** | +=======================================================================+ | **Explanation of this human right** | | | | **Slavery**- the condition of owning another person as if he or she | | is property. **Servitude** - the condition of being forced to work | | for someone else and having no freedom to decide one's way of life. | | | | **Slave trade**- the buying and selling of human beings so that they | | can be used as slaves. | | | | These are immoral acts which should not be allowed because they | | involve owning fellow human beings as property and making them to | | work under harsh conditions for no pay. They also take away the | | dignity and freedom rights of fellow human beings. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Reasons for upholding this human right** | | | | - To prevent the exploitation of other people by forcing them to | | work under harsh conditions and not paying them. | | | | - To encourage people to treat others with dignity. Making another | | person to work as a slave violates their right to dignity. | | | | - To enable all human beings to enjoy their human rights and | | freedoms. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Article 13** | | | | 1. **Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence | | within the borders of each state.** | | | | 2. **Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own | | and to return to his country.** | +=======================================================================+ | **Explanation of this human right** | | | | People should not be denied to move freely, choose and decide where | | to live and work within the country they belong to. Those who choose | | to travel and migrate to other countries and travel back to their | | country should also be allowed. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Reasons for upholding this human right** | | | | - To protect the independence and autonomy of every individual to | | decide where and when to travel also where to live. | | | | - To protect decision of refugees and other migrants who may want | | to return to their countries of origin. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Article 15** | | | | 1. **Everyone has a right to nationality.** | | | | 2. **No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality or | | denied the right to change his nationality.** | +=======================================================================+ | **Explanation of this human right** | | | | According to this article each person is entitled to legally belong | | to a particular country. It clearly states that the entitlement of | | legally belonging to a country should not be denied or taken away | | from any person. It also states that those who choose to change their | | citizenship should not be denied unless there are valid reasons to | | deny them the citizenship. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Reasons for upholding this human right** | | | | Having a nationality, | | | | - gives people a sense of belonging, identity and worth. | | | | - enables individuals to claim protection for their human rights | | from the country they belong to. | | | | - allows one to enjoy the civil rights of the country he or she | | belongs to. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Article 16** | | | | 1. **Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, | | nationality or religion, have a right to marry and to find a | | family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during | | marriage and its dissolution.** | | | | 2. **Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full | | consent of the intending spouses.** | | | | 3. **The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society | | and its entitled to protection by society and the state.** | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | **Reasons for upholding this human right** | | | | - To ensure that no adult is denied the right to marry and | | establish a family. | | | | - It promotes gender equality. Men and women have the same right | | not to be forced into marriage. | | | | - To protect the family since it is recognised as the foundation of | | society, both the society and the state has to protect the | | family. | +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+ **[The need not to violate other people's rights to attain ours]** **It is necessary to attain our rights but we should at the same time avoid violating the rights of others when attaining ours. This can help to;** - **promote mutual respect**. Attaining our rights and doing everything not to violate the rights of others is a sign that we respect others. When we respect other people they are more likely to also respect us. Mutual respect is essential for building good relationships among people which will enable people to live and work well together. - **ensure that people enjoy their rights without interference. We should ensure that in the process of attaining our rights we do not violate the rights of others.** For instance, when we enjoy our right to freedom of expression, we should be careful not to violate other people's right to privacy or lower their dignity. Nowadays there is a trend of violating other people's right to privacy and lowering their dignity by exposing their personal life on social media. W**e should create a space for others to enjoy their rights. It is also a way of promoting the** golden rule, 'do unto others as you expect them to do unto you.' - **create peace and harmony in the society**. Attaining our rights without violating the rights of others is more likely to result in good interpersonal relationships. When there are good interpersonal relationships between people, peace and harmony is more likely to prevail. **[2. HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS]** **What are human rights violations?** Human rights violations refer to actions or conducts that deny or prevent people from exercising their rights and freedoms as stated in the UDHR. It involves treating individuals as if they do not deserve freedom, are not worthy of respect and are not equal in dignity and rights. **[Possible human rights violations in Botswana]** - **The death penalty** Botswana has the death penalty or capital punishment as the ultimate punishment for those found guilty of committing murder. Botswana has been criticised for this form of punishment by some individuals, human rights organisations such as Ditshwanelo, Amnesty international and even by other countries. They believe that no one including the government has a right to take away the life of another person. They consider death penalty as a violation of the following human rights. - the right to life, liberty and security. - the right not to be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.' - **The use of corporal punishment** The customary law of Botswana allows this form of punishment in the Kgotla or traditional court. Males who are found guilty of crimes are usually given corporal punishment but females are not. This is believed to encourage gender discrimination. Those who are against corporal punishment believe that the use of corporal punishment violates the following human rights. - The right to equality in dignity and rights. - The right not to be subjected to inhuman or degrading punishment. - **Mob justice** Sometimes people accused of theft are beaten up by the public before being handed over to the police. This is act is believed to violate the following human rights. - The right to be given a fair and public hearing by an independent court of law. - The right to remain innocent until proven guilty in a fair and public trial. - **Child labour** In Botswana, the use of child labour especially in rural areas is an issue of concern. A survey by the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, has revealed that some children are employed in agriculture sector, some are employed in family businesses and others work as domestic servants. Children who are employed do not attend school, are under paid, and are not well cared for and protected. Child labour violates some of the children rights and their rights as human beings. Below are some of the children rights and the human rights violated. - The children's right to education. - The children rights to special care and treatment - Their freedom rights. - **Discrimination against women in customary marriages** The Abolition of Marital Power Act of 2005 only protects women married under civil law and excludes women married under customary law. Women married under civil law are regarded as equal partners to their husbands whereas those married under customary law are still regarded as minors under the control and authority of their husbands. The customary law of Botswana does not prohibit men from marrying a second wife. This is considered as a violation of Article 16 of UDHR which says that men and women are entitled to equal rights during marriage. - **Discrimination against men** Some laws of Botswana are believed to discriminate against men. Below are of those laws. - *The Deserted Wives and Children's Protection Act allows deserted wives and children to c*laim maintenance from their husbands. Through this act men who desert their wives and children are forced to care and provide for them. However, this act does not say whether a man deserted by his wife can claim maintenance from a wife. - *The Affiliation Proceedings Act of* 1999 This law clearly states that in a situation where a man fails to maintain his biological child, a woman can seek maintenance from the father of her child. However the law seem to be discriminatory because it does not clearly state that a father can seek maintenance from the mother, when the child is in the father's custody. These two laws violates the men's right to equality and dignity. - **Discrimination against some people with disabilities** - Some school textbooks are not written in braille to allow visually impaired learners to autonomously learn. This violates their right to education because they have to depend on other people to read for them. - Some public buildings in Botswana do not have ramps for people using wheel chairs. This violates their right to freedom of movement because they have to be dependent on other people to assist them when they enter public buildings. - **Exploitation of domestic workers and herd boys (badisa)** Some employers exploit their domestic workers and herd boys in the following ways. They - pay them below the minimum wage stated by the government. They also do not pay them gratuity or they pay them less amount of money for gratuity. In most cases domestic workers and herd boys who are exploited this way are those who are either illiterate or ignorant of the laws that protects them. This is a violation of the right to a fair and favourable payment which is worthy of human dignity. - deny them leave days especially those who do not know that they are entitled to leave days. This violate their freedom right. - make them to work under hard and harsh conditions. For example some herd boys are expected to work under harsh weather conditions without protective clothing. This violates their right to a just and favourable condition of work and it also denies them the dignity they are born with as human beings. - **Discrimination done through some inheritance customs** In the traditional culture of Botswana some inheritance customs discriminate against women and girls in the following ways. - Some families and tribes still consider the last born son as the rightful heir of the home after the death of both parents. - In some families sons inherit a large number of cattle since they are believed to be good care takers of cattle whereas daughters inherit less valuable property such as kitchen utensils. - Many tribes in Botswana still believe the first born son of the chief is the rightful heir of chieftainship. They do not accept that women are capable of being chiefs. **[Possible human rights violations around the world]** **Examples of possible human rights violations around the world.** - **Death penalty** **Ending a person's life for crimes such as murder, treason and drug trafficking.** **The rights being violated** - **The right to life** - The right to be protected from torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment **Some of the countries accused of this human right violation** **Botswana,** United States of America, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran and Japan. - **The use of torture** **Inflicting severe pain;** - to get information and confessions from crime suspects. - on political opponents. **The right being violated** - The right to be protected from torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. **Some of the countries accused of this human right violation** **United States of America,** China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Morocco and Russia and Zimbabwe - **Acts of religious intolerance** **Not accepting other people's religious beliefs and practices which may even result in;** - violent attacks against people of different religions - not allowing people of other religions to worship openly, live and work in the country. **The right being violated** The right to freedom of religion and the freedom to change one's own religion. **Some of the countries accused of this human right violation** Saudi-Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, North Korea, Afghanistan - **Xenophobic attacks** **Hostile attacks on foreign immigrants.** **The right being violated** - **The equality in dignity and rights.** - **The right to life liberty and security.** - **The right to freedom of movement within borders of each state.** **Some of the countries accused of this human right violation** South Africa, Germany, Britain and Russia **[Justification of actions that may be human rights violations]** Justifying an action involves giving reasons why an action is reasonable or necessary. Below are reasons why some actions that may be seen as human right violations are still considered necessary. **Death penalty** Death penalty may be seen as a violation of the right to life but some countries still consider it necessary for the following reasons. - It ensures that the murderer loses the right to life because he or she has denied the victim the same right. - It deters people from committing crimes punishable by death such as murder. - A dangerous criminal cannot re- offend once they are put to death. This can help to make the society a safer place to live in. - The death penalty brings justice to the victim and the victim's family. Death penalty does not bring back the victim but for some victims' families it gives them a sense of gratification and closure. **Corporal punishment** Even though some families and societies now see corporal punishment as a cruel and degrading punishment, it is still believed to be necessary for the following reasons. - It helps in the moral development of children because it corrects deviant behaviour. - Corporal punishment is part of our traditional culture. It has always been used to punish offenders. - It helps reduce overcrowding in prisons because instead of sending offenders to prison for small offences, they receive their punishment quickly and are released. **Child labour** **Child labour can interfere with the children's right to education but** some people give the following reasons to justify child labour. - Many of these children are from very poor families. The money they earn enables their families to pay for their basic needs and to survive. - Preventing children from working, may lead some children to engage in immoral ways of earning moneys such as stealing, selling illegal drugs and even prostitution. **The use of torture** **Torturing people is seen as a cruel and degrading punishment, however some** governments may give the following reasons to justify the need to torture some criminal suspects. - It enables the police and security officers to get confessions that suspects would not otherwise make voluntarily. - The information obtained from suspects can help solve crimes and help to prevent further crimes being committed. **[How human rights violations affect human life]** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Examples of human right | **How they may affect human | | violations** | life** | +===================================+===================================+ | Child labour, xenophobic attacks, | May result in physical injuries | | and the use of torture. | and some injuries may be | | | permanent. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Rape, defilement, incest and | May result in emotional trauma | | domestic violence | which may even last for a life | | | time if one is not given | | | emotional therapy. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Rape, defilement and incest | May lead to sexually transmitted | | | infections (STIs) including HIV | | | and AIDS. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Domestic violence, mob justice, | Victims may encounter fatal | | xenophobic attacks and the use of | injuries and may even lose their | | torture to force confessions. | lives. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Forced marriages** | - **Children may** have to drop | | | from school at a young age. | | | | | | - May not get good jobs due to | | | lack of education. | | | | | | - May destroy family relations. | | | Those forced to marry may | | | resent those who forced them | | | to marry. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Arbitrary arrests and unlawful | - Can disrupt family life. | | killing of political opponents | | | | - Can result in poverty if | | | victims were breadwinners for | | | their families. | | | | | | - May lead to civil war which | | | may even lead to population | | | displacement. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ 3. **[HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS]** Below are examples of organisations that have responded to Human rights violations. **Human rights organisations in Botswana** - The Botswana Centre for Human Rights (Ditshwanelo) - The Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) - Emang Basadi Women's Association - Childline Botswana - Women Against Rape ( WAR**)** - LEGABIBO **Human rights organisations in the African region** - African Union - Human Rights Watch Africa **International human rights organisations** - Reporters Without Borders - United Nations - Amnesty International - Survival international - Human Rights Watch International **[Successes and limitations of some organisations that have responded to human rights violations]** **Botswana Centre for Human Rights (Ditshwanelo)** **Successes** - Has made policy makers and members of the public aware of, - issues regarding human rights and responsibilities. - cases of human rights violations in Botswana. - Together with other NGO'S has published a booklet on inheritance rights to enlighten parents on how to write a legally correct will to reduce cases of property grabbing by relatives. - Has provided legal services to some individuals whose human rights have been violated such as domestic workers, refugees and asylum seekers. **Limitations** - Shortage of financial resources. This has resulted in the; - organisation's inability to effectively sustain itself and achieve its goals. - shortage of staff. - Still face rejection from some members of the public because it deals with controversial issues such as capital punishment, and women's rights and rights of homosexuals. **Botswana network on ethics, law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA)** **Successes** - Has a free legal clinic that deals with violation of human rights of people. It deals with cases such as; - unfair dismissal from work - stigmatisation - discrimination - Raised public awareness on some issues that affect people living with HIV through the mass media. - Helped to influence the change in HIV testing policy; children under the age of 21 were to be accompanied by a guardian when testing for HIV but now children who are 16 years and above can test for HIV without being accompanied by a guardian. **Limitations** - It sometimes face rejection from some members of the public because it sometimes advocate for culturally sensitive issues such as; - distribution of condoms in prisons. - The respect for the human rights of commercial sex workers and homosexuals. **Human Rights Watch Africa** **Successes** - Has raised human rights awareness in Africa through various means of communication such as debates, panel discussions and mass media. - Has reported cases of Human rights violation in Africa such as; - the use of torture. - denial of press freedoms. - the military use of children. **Limitations** - It faces rejection from; - Individuals who are still culturally stereotyped such as those who belief that female genital mutilation is a way of preparing girls for womanhood. - governments that violates human rights. As a result reporters of this organisation may not be able to access information on cases of human rights that involves the government. - The life of the reporters who exposes governments that violates human rights may be at risk. **United Nations** **Successes** - It has promoted international peace and security through successful peace keeping operations. For example it sent peacekeeping forces to countries including Namibia, Mozambique and Rwanda.. - It has advocated for the recognition and respect of human rights worldwide. As a result, it has come up with a document known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which protects the rights of all human beings in the world. **Limitations** - Lack of cooperation by some states. It is not possible to force governments to make laws to protect the rights of their people. It is very difficult for UN to deal with cases of human rights violations in some countries because; - some states still hold on to cultural and religious beliefs that encourage human rights violations. - the sovereignty of each country ought to be respected. As a result countries which still hold on to practices that are believed to be a violation of human rights such as capital punishment cannot be forced to abolish them. - Not all countries are members of the UN so this makes it difficult for the UN to ensure that human rights are respected in such countries. **[4. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES BASED ON GENDER]** **The difference between gender and sex** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Gender** | **Sex** | +===================================+===================================+ | - **Gender** refers the social | - **Sex** refers to the | | and cultural roles that are | biological characteristics | | considered appropriate to men | that a person is born with as | | and women. | a male or female. | | | | | - Gender is socially and | - Sex is biological. | | culturally created. | | | | - Sex characteristics are | | - Gender roles can be altered | inborn, they cannot be | | or changed. | changed. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Women were** | **Men were** | | | | | - responsible for house hold | - heads of their families. | | chores such as cooking, | | | cleaning and washing. | | | | | | | - the sole providers of their | | | families. They have to work | | - responsible for nurturing | hard to provide food, shelter | | children. They had to feed, | and clothing for their women | | bath and give attention to | and children. | | children. | | | | - responsible of doing tasks | | - to remain obedient and | that require physical | | submissive to their husbands. | strength such as chopping | | They had to show this by | fire wood and lifting heavy | | remaining passive. Assertive | objects. | | women were accused of | | | behaving like men. | - decision makers both at | | | family and societal level | | - to do tasks that requires | because it was believed that | | less physical because they | they are more capable of | | were considered the weaker | making rational decisions | | than men. | than women. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **[Practices that violate the rights of men]** - **Corporal punishment:** In Botswana men are flogged publicly at the Kgotla while women are not. (Section 28 (3) of Botswana's Penal Code states: "No sentence of corporal punishment shall be passed upon females." This violate the right of men to be treated equally in dignity and right. - **Alimony:** this refers to financial support that a person is ordered by a court of law to give to their spouse during separation or following a divorce. Usually, it is the man who is required to support his ex-wife. Some people believe this is a violation of the man's right to use his resources to ensure he has a standard of living adequate for his health and well- being. - **Forced marriages:** There are still reported cases of men being forced into - **Denying divorced fathers the custody of their children after divorce:** In most cases, when parents divorce, women get the custody of children because they are believed to have the ability to nurture and take better care of the children. Some organisations that advocate for men's rights argues that there are good fathers as much as there are good mothers. This practice is seen as a violation of men's equal rights in the ending of their marriages. - **Denying some single or unmarried fathers' rights to their children**: In some cases, when a man choose not to marry the woman he has a child with, the family of the woman may choose to deny him the rights to his child which may even force a man to seek legal advice. This practice is seen as a violation of the man's right to enjoy the same rights as women. **[Practices that violate women's rights]** - **Widow inheritance:** Widow Inheritance is a cultural practice in which a widow is expected to marry anyone chosen by her late husband's family such his brother or cousin. Countries with this practice include Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Widows who refuse to be inherited are often abused and their property may be taken away. Widow inheritance violates a woman's right to give free consent to marriage. It may also violate her right to health if the man she is forced to marry has a sexually transmitted infection or has HIV. She may also become infected. - **Forced marriages:** Some parents force their daughters to marry. Forced marriages have been reported in countries such as Nigeria, Pakistan, Zambia and Afghanistan. Girls as young as 13 years have been forced into marriages arranged by their parents. Girls are forced to marry for different reasons. For example, sometimes it is because the parents want to get the bride price paid to them by the man's family. Some girls are forced to marry because their parents use them for repayment of debts. Forced marriages violate the girls' right to give consent in marriage. - **Female genital mutilation (FGM):** Female genital mutilation also called female circumcision refers to the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia. It is usually carried out on girls any time during infancy up to the age of 15. FGM often result in complications such as severe bleeding and problems when urinating. It may also cause problems when giving birth. FGM is practiced among some ethnic groups in countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Djibouti, Ghana, Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia. This practice violates a person's rights to health and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment and the right to life if the procedure results in death. - **Wife seclusion:** Wife seclusion refers to the practice of not allowing a married woman to interact with members of the public. She is kept isolated from the outside world and can only leave her home with her husband's permission. When she goes out in public, her whole body must be covered. Wife seclusion is a practice found in some Islamic societies including Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Afghanistan. Nowadays, many people consider wife seclusion as a violation of the women's right to freedom of movement and the right to engage in the social and cultural life of the community. - **Honour killings:** An honour killing is the murder of a family member or a clan member who is believed to have dishonoured his or her family or clan. In many reported cases of honour killings, the victims are women. Accusations which may results in honour killings include - engaging in premarital sex - engaging in adultery - violating a dress code - wanting to end or prevent a forced marriage - choosing to marry a man of one's choice - wanting a divorce Honour kings have been reported in countries such as Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Pakistan, Morocco, Turkey and Uganda. Honour killings violate the women's right to life, the right to divorce and the right to marry a person of her choice. **[The status of men and women in marriage in Botswana ]** In Botswana, the status of men and women in marriage depends on the marriage law under which a couple is married. Some people marry under civil law while others marry under customary law. **The status of men and women in customary law marriages** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **The status of men in customary | **The status of women in | | law marriages** | customary law marriages** | +===================================+===================================+ | - Men have marital power over | - Women do not have marital | | women. | power, their status is almost | | | equal to that of children. | | - Husbands are the heads of | | | their families | - Women are expected to follow | | | decisions made by their men. | | - Husbands are decision makers | | | for their families. | - Women have limited rights to | | | family assets and resources. | | - Under this law men are | For example cattle are said | | allowed to marry more than | to belong to men. | | one wife. | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **The status of men and women in common or civil law marriages in Botswana** In Botswana, people who marry under the common law can choose to marry "in community" or "out of community" of property'. Below is the status of men and women in marriage "in community of property "and "out of community of property". +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **The status of men and women in | **The status of men and women out | | community of property** | of community of property** | +===================================+===================================+ | - They have joint ownership of | - They separately own property | | property. | but can only jointly own | | | property they both | | - No spouse should sell or get | contributed to. | | rid of property without the | | | consent of the other. | - One spouse can sell or get | | | rid of property without the | | - In case of death of a spouse, | consent of the other. | | the surviving spouse has a | | | legal right to inherit the | - In case of the death of a | | property. | spouse, the surviving spouse | | | only has the legal right to | | - Decisions in the family have | inherit the property jointly | | to be jointly made. | owned. | | | | | | - For property individually | | | owned, each partner can | | | decide who his or her | | | beneficiaries are. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ Whether married in or out of community of property, a man married under civil law cannot marry a second wife while still married to the first wife. He would be charged for a criminal offence called **bigamy.** **[The status men and women in education in Botswana]** - In Botswana, males and females have equal rights to education. Unlike in the past, the current education system now allows both boys and girls to enjoy the same rights and opportunities. Male and female students are now allowed to choose the subjects they prefer. In the past subjects like Art and Design and Technology were for boys only. Only girls were allowed to do Home Economics. However the number of female and male students who sit for Home Economics and Design and Technology examinations shows that some families still socialise children to believe in gender division of roles. **[The status of men and women in development in Botswana]** In Botswana, men have led in the development of the country for many years. They occupy most of the high positions of leadership in the government and private sector. This is shown by the high number of men in parliament and in the house of chiefs. Now that people accept the importance of gender equality, there is a significant improvement of the status of women in development. The government; - has changed discriminatory laws which hindered women to actively participate in the development of the country. For example the law now allow women to work underground in mines. - empowers women to actively participate in the development of the country in various ways. For instance, women are empowered to own businesses and to stand for elections. - ensured that both the boy and the girl child are taken to school. This has resulted in having women are in the formal employment and a few women now hold high positions of leadership in the government and private sector. **[The status of men and women in marriage in South Africa]** Just like in Botswana the status of men and women in marriage in South Africa depends on the marriage law one chooses to marry under. There are two marriages laws: the civil marriage law and customary marriage law. **The status of men and women in customary law marriages in South Africa** The customary law, - protects the rights of wives with regard to marital property. - gives a wife equal status to that of her husband. For example a wife and has a right to end the marriage contract, to acquire assets and get rid of them. - requires that husbands and wives should take decisions jointly. Men are no longer the sole decision makers of their families. - requires that if the husband wants to enter into another customary marriage, his existing wife or wives and the future wife are expected to make a contract concerning marital property. The High Court or a family court has to approve the contract. - says men should no longer be the only ones who get the custody of children. The court can decide who will have custody of children and who should pay maintenance. The decision on who is given the child's custody and who is to pay maintenance is based on what is best for the children. - allows a wife to claim some inheritance rights when her husband dies. **The status of men and women in civil law marriages in South Africa** Polygyny is not allowed in civil law marriages. One can only marry again if the first spouse dies or if the first marriage ends in divorce. When a person marries while he or she is still married to someone else, he or she is guilty of a crime called **bigamy.** Just like in Botswana civil law marriages in South Africa can either be 'in community' or 'out of community' of property. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **The status of men and women in | **The status of men and women in | | South Africa married in community | South Africa married out of | | of property** | community of property** | +===================================+===================================+ | - The husband and wife jointly | **Marriage out of community of | | own everything they earn and | property with accrual** | | buy. | | | | - The husband and wife only | | - They have equal control over | share property they | | their joint property. | accumulate in marriage. | | | | | - They are responsible for each | - Do not share property they | | other's debt. | each accumulated before | | | marriage. | | - They share property and debts | | | equally during divorce. | - They are responsible for the | | | debts they make together in | | - They can enter into contracts | marriage**.** | | without seeking each other's | | | permission but one needs a | **Marriage out of community of | | written permission when | property without accrual** | | buying and selling assets | | | such as a house and when | - The husband and wife | | signing credit agreements. | individually own property. | | | | | | - They are not responsible for | | | each other's debts. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **[The status of men and women in development in South Africa]** In South Africa, many men hold high positions of leadership in the private sector and the government, however, a significant number of women are also now in leadership positions. [ ] 4. **[CHILDREN'S RIGHTS]** **What are children's rights?** Children's rights are rules of fairness that all children are entitled to enjoy. They can also be referred to as entitlements to children. **Where are children's rights documented?** The children's rights are written in a document called The United Nations Children's Charter and this document consists of 54 articles. **What is the purpose of children's rights?** They are meant to protect children from any form of abuse and exploitation. This is because unlike adults, children are not old enough to care for themselves and to refuse exploitation. Although children have rights which are specifically meant for them, they are also entitled to the human rights stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights because they too are human beings. Below are some of the rights of children. - The right to life. - The right to a name and nationality. - The right not to be separated from their parents against their will. - The right to be protected from injury, abuse and exploitation. - The disabled child has a right to special care. - The right to proper health care and nutrition. - The right to be treated without discrimination of any kind. - The right to play, rest and leisure. - The right to be protected from the illegal production and use of drugs. - The right to be protected from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. - The child who is capable of forming his or her own views has the right to express those views and the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. **[The similarities and differences of the Constitution of Botswana and the Children's Charter regarding children's rights ]** **Similarities** - Both the Children's Charter and the constitution of Botswana protect the rights of children. - Both documents aim at improving the life and welfare of children and to protect children from any form of abuse and exploitation. **Differences** - The Children's Charter protects the rights of children all over the world, while the Constitution of Botswana protects the rights of children in Botswana only. - The Children' s Charter defines a child as a person under the age of 18 years, while in the Constitution of Botswana the different Acts vary in their definition of a child. For example the; - defilement act defines a child as a person under 16 years - children's maintenance act defines a child as a person below 18 years. **The position and rights of children in the different laws of Botswana** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | **Law** | **Position of a child | **Rights of the child | | | in the law** | in the law** | +=======================+=======================+=======================+ | The Defilement of a | - A child is a | - The right to be | | Child Act | person under the | protected from | | | age of 16 years. | sexual abuse and | | | | exploitation. | | | - A child is a | | | | minor who legally | | | | is not old enough | | | | to give consent | | | | to sex. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | The Child Maintenance | - A child is a | - The right to | | Act | person below the | protection from | | | age of 18 years. | neglect. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - The right to an | | | | adequate standard | | | | of living. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | The Adoption of a | - A child is a | - The right to be | | Child Act | person under the | protected from | | | age of 19 years. | abuse, neglect | | | | and exploitation. | | | - A child is a | | | | minor, so the law | - The right to a | | | requires that a | standard of | | | court of law has | living adequate | | | to approve an | for his or her | | | adoption. | physical, mental, | | | | spiritual, moral | | | - A child cannot | and social | | | apply to be | development. | | | adopted. It is | | | | the adult or | - | | | adults, who want | | | | to adopt the | | | | child who have to | | | | apply for | | | | permission to | | | | adopt. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ **[The responsibilities of children ]** Children's responsibilities refers to the roles and duties that children are expected to perform in the family and society. - **Children have a responsibility to help in family chores.** For example, they can help to clean the house, cook and wash the car. However the chores have to be age appropriate. - **Older children have a responsibility to help other family members**. Some elderly parents may need to be taken care of. For example older children help to take care of their sick and elderly parents. - **They have to obey family rules and the laws of the country.** Families have rules and the country has laws which govern the behaviour of its members. For example it is a rule in many families that children should not come home late. Just like any other citizen children have to avoid illegal acts that violates the law such as drug trafficking and stealing. - **They have to work hard at school and do the best they can.** Children have a right to education, however, they have a responsibility to work hard at school and do the best they can. It is the child's responsibility to pay attention in class, do their assignments on time and to prepare well for tests and examinations. - **They have a responsibility to learn about and be aware of their rights** When children are aware of their rights they will be able to know when their rights are being violated. - **They have to report violations of their rights** Children who are aware that they are being abused have the responsibility to report the abuse. At times parents, guardians and or care givers are unable to identify when their children are abused until the children report the act. Reporting violation of rights will bring a stop to the abuse. - **Not to violate the rights of other people** Children have the responsibility not to violate other people's rights. They should respect other people's rights, both young and old. - **Participate in the activities of the community they live in** Children should be taught at a young age that they are members of the community and therefore age appropriate children should be encouraged to help in wedding and funeral preparations. They may also take part in national activities such as national cleaning campaigns by picking up litter in their community. **The place of the child in the family and society** The place of children in the family and society refers to the worth and importance that children have in the family and society. - **They are considered the rightful heirs to their parent's property.** Children have the legal right to inherit their parent's property. - **They represent the continuity of the family and society.** Children are the future generation. They continue the family and society because they grow up to become adults and have children of their own. This allows the family and society to continue to exist. - **Some bring pleasure and happiness to the family**. Many parents get pleasure in taking care of their children and seeing them grow to become adults. Some children also bring happiness to their parents because when their parents grow old, they then take the responsibility to care for their parents. They do this in appreciation of the care their parents gave them when they were young. - **Having children is seen as a sign of adulthood.** This is because when person grows to become an adult he or she is expected to assume the responsibility of parenthood. - **In patrilineal societies, the boy child continues the family name.** When he grows up, he marries and have children, the children bear his surname. This helps to continue the family name. - **Children help in family chores** These include cooking, cleaning, washing and sweeping. In the past, children were an important source of labour in the family, for example they helped to take care of crops and livestock. - **A girl child is valued for the potential to bring wealth.** In cultures where bride price (bogadi) is given to the woman's family upon marriage, the girl child is valued for her future potential to bring wealth to her family. - **They are expected to be care takers of their parents** Children are valued because later on in life, they are expected take care of their parents when their parents get old. Children who fulfil this responsibility are seen to be appreciating the care and support they received from their parent. **The place of a child with disability in the society** Children with disabilities have worth and importance to the society in the very same way as those who are able bodied. However children with disabilities need more special care and treatment because they are more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation than those who are able bodied. Below are some of the ways of ensuring that their worth and importance to the society is not undermined. - Just like the able bodied children, children with disability are entitled to all the rights and protections stated in the UN Children's Charter and in the constitutions of the countries they belong to. - They should be given opportunities to develop and use their talents as best as they can. For example in many countries, they are allowed to show case their talents in art, music and sports. This is in agreement with the statement that says 'disability is not inability'. - They are given special education, resources and facilities relevant to their impairment. For example visually impaired students are given textbooks written in braille. In more developed countries they are given special computers with a braille key board. In schools there are ramps and special toilets to accommodate children who use wheel chairs. - In some countries there are social welfare programmes to ensure that the basic need of children with disabilities are provided for. They are given food and clothing. [ ] **[5. CHILD ABUSE]** Child abuse is the act of causing pain and suffering to a child. It is also considered as any deliberate act by an adult that violates the rights of a child and harms the welfare and wellbeing of the child. **[Common child abuse practices]** There are some forms of child abuse and there are some practices related to each form of child abuse. +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **Forms of child abuse** | **Child abuse practices** | +===================================+===================================+ | Physical abuse | - Excessively beating a | | | children | | | | | | - Overworking a children | | | | | | - Torturing a children | | | | | | - Child labour | | | | | | - Abandoning children in unsafe | | | places | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Sexual abuse | - Sexual harassment | | | | | | - Defilement | | | | | | - Paedophilia | | | | | | - Forcing children into | | | prostitution | | | | | | - Forcing children into | | | marriages | | | | | | - Exposing children to | | | pornography | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Emotional abuse | - Use of vulgar language | | | | | | - Use of offensive nicknames | | | and words | | | | | | - Humiliating children | | | | | | - Discriminating children with | | | disabilities | | | | | | - Child neglect | | | | | | - All physical and sexual abuse | | | practices are emotionally | | | abusive to children. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **[Situations that may lead to child abuse]** There are situations that put children at risk of being abused. However situations that may lead to child abuse in one family may not do so in another. For example, not all people living in poverty abuse their children. - **Children living alone-**Adults who are aware that children are living alone may start by visiting them and offering to help them, for example, by giving them food and money. The children may in turn trust such adults. Later, the adults may take advantage of the situation and sexually abuse them. - **Living in blended families-**A blended family, also known as a step family, is a family in which one or both parents have children from a previous relationship or marriage and live with them. A step parent may physically and emotionally abuse the step children because he or she resents them. Step parents may also sexually abuse step children because they are not their biological children. - **Poverty-**Some children growing up in a poor family may end up accepting food, money and gifts from strangers or other adults they know in the community. This in most cases happens when their parents fail to meet their most basic needs such as food and clothing. Strangers and other adults from the community may end up taking advantage of the children's situation and sexually abuse them. - **Inadequate accommodation-**Inadequate accommodation may lead to children sleeping in the same room with an adult or adults. Some adults may take advantage of the situation and sexually abuse the children during the night. - **Drugs and alcohol abuse by adults-**In situations where adults in the family abuse drugs and alcohol they may neglect their children and fail to provide for their needs. They may spend all their money on alcohol and drugs. They may spend most of their time in liquor restaurants and bars. Many adults who abuse alcohol and drugs do not care about the welfare of their children and some may even physically, emotionally or sexually abuse their children. - **Walking alone in unsafe places-**When children walk alone in unsafe places such as along bushy areas, in the dark streets and passages they become vulnerable to abuse. For instance, they may be kidnapped, raped or even killed by strangers. - **Accepting lifts from strangers (hitch-hiking)-**Children who normally accept lifts from strangers are at risk of being kidnapped, raped or killed by strangers. - **Children using the internet without proper supervision and guidance-**Children who do not know how to use the internet safely may be vulnerable to sexual abuse by paedophiles. Cases have been reported all over the world of paedophiles and kidnappers using the internet to entice children. This usually result in children being kidnapped or abused sexually. - **Abandonment of the responsibility to care for a child by one of the parents-**A mother or father who is supporting a child by herself or himself may subject a child to emotional abuse. This can result from being angry with the other parent who has abandoned his or her responsibility to co- parent a child. Some parents become overwhelmed and they may take it out on children by abusing them. - **A person who has been abused as a child-**People who were abused as children may abuse their own children. This is because they have grown up knowing abuse as a form of power or discipline. Sometimes they think that abuse is normal. - **Having unplanned and unwanted pregnancy-**Some women and teenage girls end up with unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. Some end up disliking their children so much that they neglect their basic needs and some may even abandon the children. **[The moral implications of child abuse ]** - **It may result in injuries**-As a result of being abused physically the child may have injuries such as bruises, wounds and a broken limb. Some injuries may become permanent or even result in disabilities. - **It may negatively affect the child's education**-All the forms of child abuse may negatively affect the child's education. The child may lose concentration in class and end up not performing well academically. - **The child may become emotionally traumatised**-All forms of child abuse may result in emotional trauma for the child. An abused child is usually afraid, isolated, and lonely and has a feeling of helplessness. This may result in low self-esteem and loss of self-confidence. - **May have negative impact on the child's behaviour**-A child who is abused may become aggressive and bully others. This is because he or she is used to seeing the abuser dealing with his or her stress and frustration in an angry and threatening way. The child may then assume that violence and aggression are powerful ways of getting what one wants. - **Sexual abuse may result in teenage pregnancy**-When a teenage girl is abused sexually, she may become pregnant and drop from school. Some even resort to backstreet abortion which can endanger their health and life. - **Sexually abused children may contract STI's**-Some sexually abused children contract sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and AIDS. This can ruin the child's life because there is no cure for some STI's including HIV and AIDS. - **Child abuse may result in some other social ills** - This include alcohol and drug abuse by children, children engaging in early sexual acts and juvenile delinquency. - **Some abused children may develop personality disorders**-If not properly counselled or given proper therapy the abused child may later on in life become an adult who finds it difficult to form relationships. They may have poor interpersonal relationships with other people. **[6. CHILD CARE]** Child care means the attention and support that is given to a child in order to promote his or her growth and development. Every child is supposed to be loved, taken care of and given both emotional and material support. **[Importance of caring for a child ]** - **Children cannot take care of themselves**. It is the responsibility of parents, guardians and other adults in the family and society to take care of children. For example children depend on their parents and guardians to provide for them and meet all their needs including food, clothing and shelter. - **Children who are well cared for are likely to become healthy-**Providing children with adequate nutritious food and proper medical care can ensure that they are healthy and grow up to become adults. They would not suffer from malnutrition and childhood diseases such as measles, polio and tuberculosis which can result in death at a young age. - **It helps a child to develop a positive self-concept-**Taking good care of children makes them to feel happy, loved and wanted. This makes them to develop a high self-esteem and confidence leading to a positive self-concept. Children with a high self-esteem and confidence can develop their talents and use them to contribute positively to the society. - **It helps to reduce juvenile delinquency-**Children who are well taken care of, loved and wanted are more likely to avoid being influenced into illegal acts such as stealing, prostitution and the selling and trafficking of illicit drugs**.** Not caring for children force them to engage in this illegal acts in order to order to survive and earn a living. Reducing juvenile delinquency helps to contribute to the existence of peace and harmony in the society. - **It contributes to the moral development of the child-**When a child is well cared for, the bond between the child and parents, the child and guardians and the child and other care givers becomes strong. This can result in trust and mutual respect. Children who trust and respect their parents, guardians and care givers are likely to listen to their advice, to obey rules and behave in morally acceptable ways. As a result such children may become moral agents. - **Taking good care of children may ensure that they are protected from abuse and exploitation-**Parents, guardians and caregivers who take good care of their children take a close interest in their children's life. They care about the welfare and protection of their children. Children who are well taken care of may grow up to have good interpersonal skills and relationships with other people. They may also grow up to become responsible and self-disciplined adults. This can contribute to having a morally upright nation. **[The effects of caring for one's children ]** - **Children may feel loved and valued-**Children who are well cared for are likely to feel loved and valued as human beings. This results in self-worth and appreciation. - **They may grow up to become responsible adults-**Parents, guardians and caretakers who care for their children may become role models to their children. Children may copy this good act and become responsible adults who take care of their own children. They may also become responsible enough to take care of their parents, when their parents become old. - **Children may be able to focus on their studies and on developing their talents-**Children who are well cared for don't worry about their basic needs because their needs are taken care of by their parents, guardians or caretakers. Instead they focus on their school work and on developing their talents. This may result in a well-informed, educated and skilled nation. - **It can positively affect the behaviour of children-**Children who are properly cared for are likely to behave well because they are guided, counselled and helped to understand the difference between right and wrong by their parents, guardians and caretakers. This can help to reduce youth behaviour problems such as juvenile delinquency and negative peer influence. - **It can reduce government spending-**When parents and guardians take proper care of their children there is likely to be less dependence on the government social welfare programmes. Money which could be used for caring for children through the welfare programmes can be used to provide other important services in the country. **[7. CHILD ABANDONMENT]** **What is child abandonment?** Child abandonment is the act of leaving one's child behind and never coming back for the child. **[Some ways in which people abandon their children]** - They leave them in unsafe places such as in the trenches and in the forest. - They dump them in rubbish bins. - They leave them in public places such as the mall, hospital waiting rooms and in hospital wards. - The father may abandon his baby with its mother or the mother may abandon her baby with its father. - Some parents may abandon their children with a grandparent, neighbour and even a stranger. **[Factors that may lead to child abandonment]** - **Unwanted pregnancy-**The stress of unwanted pregnancy may lead a woman to abandon her baby immediately after birth, especially if the father of the baby has refused to accept the pregnancy. - **Lack of support in raising a child -**Some women abandon their children because the men they have children with do not help to support the children with basic needs such as food and clothing. Some of those women abandon their children because they do not want to take the responsibility of caring of the child alone. - **Irresponsible parenting-**Some children are abandoned because their parents are irresponsible and do not want to accept their parental duty of caring for the child. Irresponsible parents do not bother to look after their children. Instead they prefer to use their money and time enjoying themselves. Such parents normally abandon their children with another parent, grandparents or a relative. - **Breakup of families-**Unresolved problems within the family can result in divorce. When parents divorce, children are left with one parent, while the other parent leaves. The parent who leaves may abandon his or her children with the other parent and never care about his co- parenting roles. - **Poverty-**Raising a child is financially demanding. Some parents may end up abandoning their children because they are poor and do not have any means of caring for their children. - **Drugs and alcohol addiction-**Parents who are addicted to illegal drugs and alcohol may abandon their children because they feel that taking care of their children is a burden and it interferes with their lifestyle. - **The challenges of raising a child with health problems or severe disability-** Some children have serious health problems or severe disabilities. Some parents lack emotional, physical and financial support to raise such children. As a result some parents may abandon their children because they are unable to deal with the health problems and the severe disabilities that their children have. - **Lack awareness of alternatives to child abandonment-**Some parents abandon their children because they are not aware that there are some alternatives to child abandonment. For example, they are not aware that a child could be given up for adoption or taken by foster parents. - **Problems caused by natural disasters-**Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes often result in families becoming homeless and having no means of survival. In such situations some parents abandon their children with the hope that those who find them, will be able to take care them. - **War-**When there is a breakup of war in a country some families flee to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. When fleeing to seek refuge in other countries some parents may in some unfortunate situations end up abandoning their children because the break of war does not normally give people a chance to prepare to leave. **[The moral implications of child abandonment ]** - **It is a violation of the main moral duty of a parent -**The main moral duty that each parent have is to love, protect and provide for the needs of his or her child. Parents who abandon their children are failing their moral duty may end up being imprisoned. - **It may cause emotional and mental damage to the abandoned child**-children who are abandoned normally feel unloved and unwanted. Some even blame themselves for being abandoned by their parents. They may feel that they were a burden to their parent. This may result in severe emotional pain which may even lead to depression. - **Abandoned children may be left with questions about their identity**-The wish to know who their biological parents are may be emotionally traumatising to some abandoned children. Remaining biologically unconnected to any family or relative may leave the abandoned child with questions of identity. This may result in the child being unhappy all his or her life. - **Some may grow up having doubts about their self-worth-**Abandoned children who blame themselves for being abandoned may feel worthless. This may result in a low self-esteem and loss of self- confidence. The child may as result get a negative self- concept. - **It may put the life of the child in danger** -A baby who is abandoned in an unsafe place such as the bush and rubbish bins, may die if no one finds it and cares for it. This gives an impression that human life is worthless and disposable which is not supposed to be the case. - **Child abandonment creates the risk of incest-**A man or woman might have sexual relations with someone who later turns out to be their abandoned child or sibling. - **It may put financial strain on some individuals, organisations and even the government-**Abandoned children, usually become someone else's responsibility. For example, the relatives, the government or some charity organisations have to ensure that abandoned children are cared for. - **Child abandonment may result in some other social ills-**Some older children who have been abandoned may be forced to fend for themselves on the streets as beggars, prostitutes and thieves. They may also end up becoming drug addicts and alcoholics. Some may sell or traffic drugs as a way of trying to earn a living. - **It is considered an irresponsible, cruel and inhumane act-**People who abandon their children are often judged by society as being irresponsible, cruel and inhumane because children are helpless and dependent on adults for care and survival. **[The position of Botswana law with regard to child abandonment]** In Botswana it is a criminal offence to abandon children. The penal code of Botswana states that all custodians of children have an obligation to provide for the children's needs. A custodian is a person who is responsible of taking care of a child. The custodians must exercise their responsibilities and no child must suffer because custodians failed to carry out their responsibilities. If this happens custodians are liable to imprisonment for not more than 3 years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Solutions to child abandonment ------------------------------ - **The use of contraception-**In order to reduce cases of child abandonment it is important for people to use contraceptives so that they can avoid unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. Educating people about contraception and making it easy for people to access contraceptives can help to encourage the use of contraceptives. - **Having life skills education in schools-**Life skills education would teach children to be autonomous, assertive and also teach those ways of saying no to negative peer pressure. This can help to reduce cases of teenage pregnancy which is one of the factors leading to child abandonment. - **Raising awareness on alternatives to child abandonment-**Teaching people about alternatives to child abandonment such as adoption and child fostering can reduce cases of child abandonment. - **Creation of more employment opportunities-**When the government and the private sector create more employment oppourtunities, a number of parents can be able to take care of their children's needs. Cases of child abandonment can be reduced. - **There should be minimum wage for employees-**When there is minimum wage for employees even the least paid employee can afford to provide the basic needs for his or her children. This can help to reduce cases of child abandonment. - **Enforcement of child maintenance laws-**The child maintance law should be enforced so that fathers and mothers who abandon their children be required to pay an amount of money as maintenance fee and legal action should be taken against those who fail to maintain their children. - **Teaching of parenting skills-**It is important to teach parenting skills to people who are at a child bearing age so that they become responsible parents who care for the needs and welfare of their children. Knowing what it entails to take care of a child can help to reduce cases of unplanned pregnancies which contributes to child abandonment. - **Rehabilitation of drug and alcohol addicts-**Rehabilitating adults who abuse alcohol and those addicted to drugs can help to reduce cases of child abandonment. This is because under the influence of drugs and alcohol some parents abandon their children. This would help to reduce a number of irresponsible parents who either neglect or abandon their children. 8. ANIMAL RIGHTS ---------------- **[The concept of animal rights ]** It is the idea that animals should have the right and freedom to live their natural lives free from human exploitation and abuse. Animals are entitled to humane and caring treatment because they have the ability to suffer and feel pain. **Right way of making use of domestic and wild animals** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | **The right ways of making use of | **The right ways of making use of | | domestic animals** | wild animals** | +===================================+===================================+ | **a) As** **source of food** | **a**) **As a source of meat**- | | | people get meat from wild animals | | - **Meat-** e.g cattle, goats, | such as rabbits, deer, Zebra and | | sheep | buffalo. | | | | | - **Milk** - e.g. cattle and | **b)** **As a source of tourists | | goats | attraction**- All wild animals | | | including lion, elephants, | | - **Eggs**- e.g. chicken and | baboons; cheetahs, snakes, | | ducks | leopards and many others are a | | | major source of tourist | | b. **As a source of raw | attraction in Botswana. | | materials** | | | | | | - **skins to make leather | | | goods**- from e.g goat and | | | cattle | | | | | | - **wool**- from sheep. | | | | | | c. **As a source of draught | | | power**- oxen, donkeys and | | | horses are used to pull carts | | | and ploughs | | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **[How we can ensure the welfare of domestic animals]** - They must have enough food and water and should be given medical attention when they need it. - We should protect them from harsh weather conditions for example by having a dog kennel. - They should not be beaten out of frustration. - Animals which are used as a source of draught power should not be over worked or over loaded. - They should not be made to fight as a source of entertainment. For example cock fighting, dog fighting and bull fighting are considered an abuse of animals. **[How we can ensure the welfare of wild animals]** - By conserving their natural habitats so that they can find enough food to eat and continue to thrive. - By controlling hunting to avoid extinction of certain wild animal species. - By not causing them unnecessary pain for example by avoiding to use them in scientific experiments. The relationship between animals and people in the past ------------------------------------------------------- People related to animals in various ways. In most cases the relationship between people and animals was determined by the way they used animals. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - **Some animals were used as an identity for a tribe-**In Botswana some ethnic groups use animals as totems. Each ethnic group in Botswana has an animal that they decided to choose as their totem. A totem was believed to give an ethnic group identity, pride and dignity. Their relationship with their totems resulted in respect and conservation of those animals. Below are examples of ethnic groups in Botswana and their totems. **Some ethnic in Botswana** **Their totems** ----------------------------- ------------------- Balete and Babirwa Nare( Buffalo) Bahurutshe Tshwene( Baboon) Bakwena Kwena( crocodile) Batawana and Bangwato Phuti( Duiker) Bakgatla Kgabo( Monkey) Basubiya Phala(impala) - **Some animals were used for companionship and security by their owners-**Animals which were used as pets such as dogs and cats were commonly used for companionship. Dogs were also used for security both at home and when undertaking a journey. As a result pets were given names, special care and treatment. This resulted in strong and close relationships between people and their pets. - **Some animals were used as symbols of economic power and status-**In some African cultures including that of Batswana, owning a large number of livestock was seen as measure of wealth and high status in society. Those who had a large number of livestock were considered rich and were more respected in the society. - **Some animals were used to build and strengthen social relationship-**Some ethnic groups in Botswana and some other countries in Africa such as Zimbabwe and South Africa, used and still use cattle to pay bride price (bogadi or lobola). The purpose of the bride price was to thank and to form a bonded social relationship between the groom's family and the bride's family. In some cases some members of the community would give the chief some cattle as a way of thanking him for his good leadership. - **In some religions and cultures some animals were worshipped as gods**-The ancient Egyptians worshiped almost every animal. For example they worshiped Apies, an Egyptian bull which was considered to be a god of fertility. In Hinduism cows were and are still considered sacred and are not killed or eaten. Animals which were considered as gods were treated with respect. The moral implications of relating closely to animals ----------------------------------------------------- - **We are more likely to be concerned about their welfare-** When we relate more closely to animals our concern for their welfare is more likely to increase. For example we shall feed our domestic animals properly and be concerned about their health. We shall protect wild animals from extinction. - **We can appreciate the interdependence relationship** -- Relating more closely to them can help us as human beings to acknowledge and appreciate that animals, more especially domestic animals depends on us for survival and we too depend on them for our survival. - **Our understanding of animal behaviour will improve**. This can result in a bond between people and their animals. When a person has a strong bond with his animal such as a pet it can result in more care and protection. Some people have a bond with their livestock as a result they do everything to ensuring their care and welfare. - **It may lead to bestiality**- Relating too closely to our domestic animals, may lead some people to commit a crime known as bestiality which is considered illegal, immoral and cruel to animals. - **Our attitude and views about animals may also change**- We may start to look at animals as sentient beings; that they have the ability to feel pain and suffer. We can realise that human acts such as using animals in blood sports and vicious beating of animals are morally wrong because they cause pain and suffering to animals. 9. ANIMAL CARE -------------- ### There are some ways of protecting animals, however domestic and wild animals are protected differently. ### [How to care for domestic animals] - **Providing them with proper food and water-**It essential to provide domestic animals with food and water because they depend on their owners. Food should be enough to satisfy them and nutritious for them to stay healthy. Livestock should be allowed enough time to graze and should be given clean water at least once a day. - **Providing suitable shelter-**Providing shelter to domestic animals helps to protect them from harsh weather and from predators. For example dog kennels and chicken houses protect dogs and chickens from harsh weather. Even though kraals do not protect livestock from harsh weather they protect livestock from predators. - **Providing health care-**Domestic animals have to be given proper health care to prevent infections and to help them stay healthy. Sick animals have to be given medicine. Vaccinating animals help to prevent infections and diseases. For example vaccinating our dogs helps to prevent them from rabies and vaccinating cattle can help to prevent them from diseases such as foot and mouth. - **Animals used for draught power have to be allowed to rest-**Animals used as to plough and to pull loaded carts use lot of energy when pulling and as a result they get tired. It is therefore fair and necessary to allow them to rest. Allowing them to rest would help them to recover from fatigue. - **Animals must be treated with kindness and compassion**-If we treat animals with kindness and compassion we can avoid treating them cruelly and abusively. We can avoid causing them unnecessary pain and suffering. **[How to care for wild animals]** - **Preserving their natural habitat -**By preserving their natural habitat we are caring for wild animals because it helps to ensure that the wild animals continue to live their natural lives, get food and enough space from the environment. It is also a way of ensuring that animals continue to thrive. Preserving their natural habitat involves - having wild life sanctuaries, game parks and game reserves. - having fire breaks in game parks and game reserves to stop the spread of veld fires which can destroy animal life and the environment in which animals live. - **Protecting wild animals from poachers-**Poac