CHAPTER DISTRICT CONSULTATIONS REPORTS 2: CORPORAL PUNISHMENT Challenges ? Children are beaten at home and school. At school, apart from being beaten by teachers, children are beaten by prefects with sticks. Recommendations ? The government should ban corporal punishment as it is humiliating and degrading to children. ? Prefects should not be allowed to beat children. CHILD ABUSE Challenges ? The rate at which children are being abused is increasing. Children can no longer walk long distances or play freely for fear of being victims. ? Sexual abuse cases are being dealt with at family level or community courts where the perpetrators are made to pay compensation. Recommendations ? Those convicted of child sexual abuse must be given harsh sentences like death penalty. ? Chiefs should handle child abuse cases in a way that does not violate children`s rights. CHILD LABOUR Challenges ? Children staying with step parents are subjected to hard work. ? Parents do not know the limitations of the work children should get considering their age. Recommendations ? Step parents should show parental love to their step children and not subject them to hard labour. ? The government should pass stiffer laws against child abuse. RELIGION Challenges ? Children are forced to go to church even when the churches violate their rights. Some churches encourage early marriages and the child will be forced to leave school and concentrate on being a wife at an early age. Recommendations ? Religious practices that are harmful to the child`s development should be banned. ? Parents who force children into early marriages due to religion should be arrested. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES Challenges ? Children in the rural areas are left out on recreational facilities as compared to those in the urban areas. They are deprived of their right to leisure and play. ? Parents are overprotective of their children and do not allow them to socialize and play with other children. Recommendations ? Local authorities are encouraged to construct recreational facilities for children in the rural areas. These facilities should be safe so that parents will allow their children to play there. ? Children should have a right to play and rest. ··“We must not pay to have birth certificates because it is our right.” CHILD PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS Children's consultations CONSOLIDATED REPORT 32