BONELA

25/06/2020 BONELA introduced the organization and children’s rights, particularly in light of June 16 – Day of the African Child this year commemorated under the theme “Access to  Child Friendly Justice in Africa”

In many African countries, children’s welfare needs and their status in issues pertaining to the law, where they are required to serve as witnesses , classified as victims of abuse and in most instances, subjected to parental disputes, their rights are overlooked and violated. Therefore this year’s June 16 theme highlights the significance of providing legal literacy in schools and even the society as simple laws or informal justice that children should know and should be able to utilize if need arises. This is mainly to promote children’s rights and their role in the justice processes.

CONTINUATION .....CLIP  1 || In many African countries, children’s welfare needs and their status in issues pertaining to the law, where they are required to serve as witnesses , classified as victims of abuse and in most instances, subjected to parental disputes, their rights are overlooked and violated. Therefore this year’s June 16 theme highlights the significance of providing legal literacy in schools and even the society as simple laws or informal justice that children should know and should be able to utilize if need arises. This is mainly to promote children’s rights and their role in the justice processes.

BONELA Discussing International Sex Worker’s Day

BONELA’s interview on COVID-19 and Key Populations conducted on 30th April 2020

Pursuant to the TB in the Mining sector project; BONELA was on RB2 talking TB and its relationship and interaction with COVID-19.

BONELA on RB2 talking the rights of People With Disabilities (PWD) during Covid-19

The President of the Republic of Botswana called on the nation to trust in his leadership & guidance. These were sentiments echoed in his address  requesting the Parliament of Botswana to accede to an extension of the #StateofEmergency for an additional 6 months to allow him to take all necessary measures to contain the spread of #COVID-19. President Masisi assured the nation that everything would be done in accordance with the prescripts of the #Constitution, #laws and #regulations all the while protecting Batswana’s fundamental #rights & #freedoms.  (VOA News)

People with disabilities (#PWD) have #vulnerabilities and #needs that require specific attention under normal circumstances. In emergencies such the COVID – 19 (#CoronaVirus)  pandemic, their vulnerabilities are more glaring and the need to ensure  the promotion and protection of their rights becomes more pressing.

BONELA discussing State of Emergency and Access to Justice on RB2

International Human Rights standards dictate that realization of human rights includes and depends on the promotion and protection of the right to right to health, food, housing, work, education, human dignity, life, non-discrimination, equality, prohibition against torture, privacy, access to information, and the freedoms of association, assembly and movement. The threat posed by the COVID -19 (Corona Virus) pandemic forces Botswana to balance public health concerns and approaches against human rights principles.

BONELA discussed the degree or level of Botswana’s domestication of the TRIPS flexibilities and BONELA’s  advocacy for the strengthening of Botswana laws to ensure full utilization of TRIPS flexibilities to ensure sustained access to medicines by Batswana

27th March- BONELA spoke on intellectual property rights with a specific focus on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), its flexibilities and how they may be used to increased access to medicines by developing and low income countries.

20th March- BONELA launched a discussion on intellectual property rights and access to medicines. On this particular interview, BONELA introduced the topic of patents and their connection to medicines.

On  the 31st of October BONELA engaged on a discussion on the rights of adolescents and young women in Botswana, in this interview BONELA highlighted  integral part that that they play in instilling and sensitizing young adolescents in Botswana on their rights, looking at their current environment, gearing towards their future. These sensitizations happen through workshops facilitated by BONELA in various schools in Palapye, Francistown, Tutume and Boteti respectively

BONELA on the 30th October 2019 talked about disability rights and its Programmes that cater for people living with disability and awareness for their rights.

Following a decision by the South African courts to ban corporal punishment, on 25th September 2019 BONELA was on Gabz FM talking about the harm of corporal  punishment and the need; in the interest of protecting children and ensuring the survival, development and participation, for Batswana to start considering alternative disciplinary measures. 

The Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and Human Rights (BONELA) with the support of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM) is implementing a project titled “Promotion, Protection and Fulfillment of Health rights of People with Disabilities in Botswana”. The project objectives include among others;

Using a rights based framework to identify gaps and barriers that hinder the enjoyment of the right to health of People With Disabilities (PWDs) in Botswana and conducting human rights civic education and awareness in order to create an increased access to available social, health and legal services for PWDs.

To achieve these objectives, BONELA has been conducting participatory community dialogues and campaigns in three major districts (Gaborone, Palapye and Francistown) to facilitate advocacy initiatives on matters such as Social rights, GBV, Stigma and discrimination and other issues dealing with PWD.

In furtherance of the above, BONELA conducted a 15 minute interview on RB2 talking about the community dialogues that have been happening in the Francistown District with PWDs dealing with the issues mentioned above.

On the 10th and 11th July 2019, BONELA, through the support of Save the Children International was in Bobonong conducting a community dialogue and campaign so as to understand and gain an appreciation of children's rights in the village. BONELA found that the prevailing child rights violations are defilement and child neglect. Parents, Guardians, Teachers, Social Workers, Police and the community at large, lets work together to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfillment of children's rights.    

03 June 2019; BONELA on RB2 sharing on key learnings from engagements with stakeholders and the community in Selebi Phikwe. Children have been neglected on mine property - leading to child headed households, and children are being sexually violated. Let's band together to end child rights abuses!!

30 May 2019; BONELA on RB2 discussing interventions in Selebi Phikwe aimed at addressing child negligence and child sexual abuse