16 Mar 2025

The Botswana Police Services (BPS) has been urged to consider increasing virtual courts for children in order to protect them from further victimisation and intimidation.
First Lady Kaone Boko made this call after touring a Child-Friendly Centre in Maun on Thursday, which she appreciated for creating a conducive environment mostly for children to freely report incidents of gender-based violence.
She was impressed to learn about a success story in which a virtual court was set up for a rape case involving five minor girls aged 8 to 12.
“This is a commendable effort and we should have more of virtual courts to reduce the need for physical appearance. It is not good for children to interact in the same room with perpetrators as such remind them what happened and become scared to express themselves freely,” she added.
Ms Boko also called for expansion of child-friendly centres across the country, saying they were achieving intended purpose of receiving reports, ensuring professional investigation and safeguarding children rights when handling cases affecting children.
Such facilities, she said would go a long way in fulfilling justice for children.
The First Lady also called on Child-Friendly Centre in Maun to share their toll free number with schools so that they could pass it to children so as to be able to report incidents of gender based violence.
She expressed worry that some parents were not quick to report such incidents, which compromised justice for children.
The Botswana Police Service  Deputy Director for Gender and Child Protection, Assistant Commissioner Gontlafetse Segolodi said the police had established eight Child-Friendly Centres.
He said the first one was piloted at Broadhurst Police Station in 2020 and by the end of 2021, it received 317 reports of which 137 were registered as cases.
Most common reported cases, he said was defilement, followed by rape and neglect or ill treatment of children.
Assistant Commissioner Segolodi said statistics highlighted critical need for additional centres to address the growing number of children who came into contact with the law.
The centres, he said had a significant positive impact on child friendly policing saying such was evident in the improved quality of investigations, the standardisation of case handling and the creation of a safe, supportive environment for children.
He also said the centres benefitted from specialised personnel who ensured that cases were managed with highest levels of professionalism and sensitivity.
The BPS with its strategic partners, he said in the past few years embarked on an intense training of officers in different areas of dealing with children such as arts and drama.
Assistant Commissioner Segolodi further said future centres may see upgraded facilities that provided a more supportive and therapeutic environment for children saying that could include dedicated interview rooms, recreational spaces and private areas where children could feel safe and comfortable.
“Investments in child-focused infrastructure will help mitigate trauma and allow children to engage in the legal process in a secure and welcoming space,” he added.
He highlighted that the police had placed strong emphasis on addressing gender based violence and crimes involving children.
This, he said included internal and operational responsibilities that ensured implementation of policies, procedures and systems aimed at protecting victims.
Further, he said the police had actively collaborated with partners to enhance child protection and responded effectively to such crimes.
Mr Segolodi said UNICEF had been a crucial partner in Botswana’s child protection efforts citing that the organisation worked with police to establish facilities, policies and procedures that promoted child friendly services.
“Through this collaboration, UNICEF supported the development of a comprehensive system addressing child abuse; ensuring that the needs of children are met with care, respect and sensitivity,” he added. ENDS