GABORONE, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 728 births for mothers aged 16 years and below were recorded in the past 22 months in Botswana, the southern African country's Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs Minister Edwin Batshu said Friday.
Batshu made the revelation when launching 16 days of activism against violence on women and children at Goshwe village near the country's second largest city, Francistown, some 550km northeast of the capital, Gaborone.
The launch came on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, usually observed on November 25 worldwide.
"For the period from January 2016 until October 2017, a total of 728 births were recorded for mothers under the age of 16 years and below, with the youngest mother aged 10 years," said Batshu.
According to Batshu, statistics for the period between 2011 and 2015 indicates that at least 5, 553 births for mothers aged 16 years and below were registered.
Batshu said the statistics reveal a heartbreaking situation on the extent of sexual violation suffered by young girls in Botswana.
"It is disturbing that girl children, as young as 10 years can be mothers when in actual fact they should be mothered and nurtured by mothers and fathers for them to be future responsible adults," he said.
