Benin and Botswana: supporting primary school children to understand their rights

In Benin and Botswana, primary schools took part in events to raise children's awareness of their rights. Human rights begin at birth, and it's important for children to understand the concept of their rights, so that they learn to advocate for themselves and to defend the rights of others.

In Benin, 252 children at the Public Primary School of Koumadogou, in the Commune of Boukombé, Atacora took part in a lesson on child marriage, as part of a series of events to mark World Children's Day. During the lesson, children learned about the consequences of child marriage, particularly in rural areas like Boukombé. They also explored the roles and responsibilities of children in their homes, and in their communities. It is particularly important for younger children to begin to understand their rights and responsibilities, and to learn to advocate for themselves in Benin, as there is an enormous disparity in the rates of child marriage for girls who finish their education at primary level and for girls who complete secondary education. According to a recent household survey in Benin, 28.9% of women who have only completed primary education were married before 18, compared to 4.2% who have completed secondary school or higher. The schoolchildren not only pledged to end child marriage, but also committed to raising awareness among their parents so that child marriages end in Koumadogou.

In Botswana, Youth Unit Organization (main image above) worked with Masa Primary School in the capital, Gabarone. 85 students between the ages of 10-12 attended the event. The team at Youth Unit Organization ran a lesson on child marriage, and included interactive games to help children understand the concept. According to national statistics, Botswana has a relatively low child marriage rate, at 12.5% - compared to the global average of 19%. However, 1 in 10 women aged 20-24 were married by the age of 15 in Botswana - this is more than double the global average of 4%. Working with young children is critical in the fight to end this extreme form of child marriage in Botswana.