Challenges faced in the implementation of provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in Botswana

Children tend to be among the most vulnerable cohorts of the population in any given society. Consequently, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) adopted in 1989 by member states of the United Nations aims to protect them. While several conventions have been crafted for various target groups, the CRC is the only convention that has been ratified by almost all the countries of the world. The paper contends that although Botswana has made enormous progress in implementing the CRC, the country has had to grapple with numerous challenges that continue to impede the successful implementation of the provisions of the said Convention. The purpose of this paper is essentially three-fold. First, it highlights progress that Botswana has made in implementing the provisions of the Convention. Second, it analyses the challenges that have been faced by stakeholders in implementing the provisions of the Convention in the country. And lastly, the paper concludes by making a number of recommendations meant to help in charting the way forward.KEYWORDS: Convention, rights, United Nations, Botswana, children, stakeholder

Introduction: Socioeconomic Development in Botswana

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Perceptions of sugar mommy practices in South Africa

The study sought to explore sugar mommy practices regarding their occurrence, acceptability as well as perceived reasons why older women and younger men enter into sugar mommy relationships. An exploratory qualitative study involving 135 participants from 11 diverse focus groups in terms of age, gender (females=27%) and geotype throughout the nine South African provinces was conducted. Data on the participants’ views, opinions and experiences of sugar mommy practices were collected using focus group interviews. The data were thematically analyzed. The study found that sugar mommy practices were prevalent in South Africa. The perceived reasons for acceptability were: love, survival, and correctness. Perceived reasons why older women have sexual relationships with younger men included: sexual fulfilment, domination, reduction of stress, physical attraction, procreation, lack of self-control, youthful feeling, migrancy, difficulty in finding partners of compatible age and young men being seen as not demanding. Perceived reasons why younger men have sexual relationships with older women included: material gain, reduction of stress, being enticed, rejection by women of compatible age, peer influence and belief that older women are purer. Given the increase in sugar mommy practices, which may have significant implications for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, it is necessary to understand the underlying perceptions of these practices, in order to develop culturally relevant and socially acceptable intervention programmes