Children Are A Treasure And Future Of Southern Africa

Her Majesty the Queen of Lesotho - ‘Masenate Mohato Bereng Seeiso

Violence against children has become a global scourge affecting more than a billion children around the world - affecting them into adulthood and also impacting communities.

Her Majesty the Queen of Lesotho - ‘Masenate Mohato Bereng Seeiso, in her capacity as Lesotho’s champion for vulnerable children, delivered a keynote address during the Southern Africa regional launch of a five year 'It Takes A World To End Violence Against Children' campaign.

“Children are a treasure and our future in our African society as in many other cultures around the world. Children therefore need to be protected and taken a good care of."

“Child molestation continues in many forms such as corporal punishment, marriages and child labour. I believe child marriage remains common amongst most countries in the Southern Africa region but is not reported well,” she said.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified and adopted in 1989 states that - “...children are not allowed to vote, to marry, to buy alcohol, to have sex, or to engage in paid employment.”

Queen ’Masenate emphasised that violence against children should be a taboo and scorned at by all members of the society, citing that child protection issues in our region still remain alarmingly very exacerbated by our cultural beliefs.

UNICEF report on ending child marriage states that about a third of Southern Africa regional women aged between 20 and 24 years of age were married on their 18^th birthday. Africa has the highest child labour in the world.

Queen ‘Masenate acknowledged progress made by each of the Southern Africa countries in the formulation of protection laws and policies, with emphasis on Lesotho where Children’s Protection and Welfare Act of 2011 is currently under review.

“Let me acknowledge the efforts and campaigns being undertaken to prevent and respond to violation of children’s rights in our individual countries. I strongly believe that, effective implementation of this campaign will play a vital role in strengthening partnership amongst different role players and also to enhance their meaningful participation into the programmes that are meant to create a violence free environment for children in Southern Africa and beyond,” she added.

Queen ’Masenate further said - “It is initiatives such as this that give us hope towards the betterment of lives of women and children and their livelihoods and protection. It gives me great pleasure and privilege to be part of this very important occasion and unique forum themed How far have we gone in addressing violence against women and children in southern Africa and how much more is needed as a way forward?"