MASERU – Probation department under the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoLJ) has engaged in a series of awareness campaigns aimed at educating children about different forms of crimes.

Speaking in an interview with the Agency on Sunday, the Ministry’s Senior Probation Officer, Mr. Tsépo Matlosa said the department's goal is to join all efforts acting proactively against crime ensuring that children   are educated on crime to avoid negative consequences that come with it.

Therefore, he explained that campaigns are essential and have turned out to be a friendly approach in the justice system, ensuring that the child’s best interests and perspective are considered.

Meanwhile, he mentioned that they have already been to Nyakosoba including Moshoeshoe II primary where they are currently working on a case of sexual offence that has been reported at the school.

“This incident alone shows that it is important that children are warned. Although they are regarded as minors according to the law, they are not immune to crime and ought to know that  some parents take it upon themselves to ensure that crime is reported and dealt with,” he stressed.

He warned children to be mindful of their behaviours that can lead them astray. In addition, the Senior Probation Officer highlighted that now that schools are re-opening, they will be having other campaigns at Lesotho high school and St. James as well as Iketsetseng private school amongst others.

He appealed to different schools to also liaise with their office so that all different crimes that include theft, use and abuse of drugs facing children today are tackled as well as the need to also consider restorative justice as a means to tackle crime pertaining to children.

In the same note, the Lesotho Correctional Service (LCS) Principal Rehabilitation Officer (PRO), Mr.  Lefelisa Setloboko  told the Agency about the importance of restorative justice in reducing dependence on incarceration, especially for minor offenses, thereby lessening prison overcrowding.

Article 37 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) asserts that children may be detained only as a last resort and for the shortest length of time. The CRS notes that children should not be treated in a cruel or harmful manner. This article stipulates that children in detention facilities should be separated from adults unless this is not in the child’s best interest.

The 2021 report by UNICEF shows that globally an estimated 261,200 children were detained in 2020 with North America having the highest regional rate of children in detention at 137 per 100,000 children. Latin America and the Caribbean have the greatest number of children in detention as well as the second highest rate of children in detention at 77 per 100,000 children.

Image by Novak Djokovic foundation