DISTRICT CONSULTATIONS REPORTS CHAPTER 2: CHILD ABUSE Challenges ? Ignorance on the part of parents and adults is one of the reasons why children are being abused. ? Some children are being raped by very close relatives. Orphans, poor and the disabled children are the most affected. ? Some traditional healers are fueling rape by claiming that having sexual intercourse with a child cleanses HIV and AIDS. Recommendations ? Child sexual abusers must be kept in jail for their whole lives. ? Children are innocent souls who require proper care, support and comfort. ? Traditional healers who prescribe false remedies like raping your own child should be sentenced to death. CHILD LABOUR Challenges ? Children are being used by adults to fetch firewood and water without considering their age. ? Some parents send children to sell wares at shops or near bars. Recommendations ? The government, police, neighbours and churches must commit themselves to protecting children from child labour. ? Duties that are allocated to children should be manageable. ? Parents who force children to sell things close to the bars should be arrested. PROTECTION Challenges ? Children are not fully protected from sexual abuse, political violence and child labour. ? The constitution does not fully protect children. Recommendations ? Perpetrators of sexual abuse should be sentenced to death. ? The constitution should enshrine children's rights since it is the supreme law of the country. 2.10 DISTRICT: PROVINCE: VENUE: DATE: PARTICIPANTS: UMZINGWANE DISTRICT MATEBELELAND SOUTH PROVINCE UMZINGWANE HIGH SCHOOL 23 JUNE 2010 195 CHILDREN (II8 GIRLS AND 77 BOYS) CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS BIRTH REGISTRATION Challenges ? The fees required for one to get a birth certificate are too high such that children staying with parents who are not working find it difficult to acquire birth certificates. ? The Registrar General's offices are located far away resulting in children staying with grandparents failing to get birth certificates. The grandparents who are old cannot walk long distances. Recommendations ? Birth certificates should be free or the fees charged must be reduced. DISCRIMINATION Challenges ? Children living with HIV are discriminated against. Recommendations ? Every child deserves fair and equal treatment. CHILD PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS Children's consultations CONSOLIDATED REPORT 26