The National Child Protection Week is an annual campaign of the Government of South Africa led by the Department of Social Development in partnership with other government departments and civil society organisations.
Key partners include Childline and Unicef. The goal for Child Protection Week is to promote the culture of respect for children’s rights thus ensuring that all children grow up in an environment that is safe from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
This year’s celebrations will be conducted under the theme "Caring Communities Protect Children." The theme highlights the value of partnerships between government and all sectors of society, particularly civil society in creating safe environment for children. Child Protection Week will be held this year from 25 - 31 May 2009.
Government has put in place various pieces of legislation to protect children
• The Constitution, adopted in 1996, is the supreme source of law in South Africa which protects the rights of all children. Section 28 of the Constitution clearly sets out rights for every child. A child’s best interests are of paramount importance in all matters.
• South Africa ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the world’s leading instrument on the rights of children and young people. By signing up the Convention, the South African government committed itself to protect and promote children’s rights.
• Maintenance Act (1998) guarantees the socio-economic rights afforded children in the Constitution by ensuring that every child has the right to a standard of living adequate for the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development. The Act ensures that maintenance for the child is recovered form the patents or other persons financially responsible for the child.
• The Childrens’Act (2005) and Children’s Amendment Act (2007) serve as instruments for fighting child poverty and of promoting the rights of children.
• The passing of the Sexual Offences and the Films and Publication Amendment Bills by Parliament further creates an enabling environment for protection of children and prosecution of offenders in South Africa.
• The annual Child Protection Week, 16 Days of Activism for no Violence against Women and Children and the launch of the 365 Days plan of action reflect the determination of government and its civil society partners to ensure that every child enjoys their Constitutional rights.
Government and civil society organisations are implementing various programmes to promote children’s rights and create a nurturing environment:
• Millions of children benefit from free primary healthcare, school feeding schemes, the no-fee school policy for children from poor households. Such interventions ensure that children grow up in environment where they can blossom to their full potential.
• 8 523 741 children receive child support grants, 474 012 receive foster care grant and the age extension from 14-15 years has reached 75 591 recipients.
• A total of 407 937 orphans and vulnerable children and 53 607 child headed households were identified and received services through the Home Community Based Care programme.
• 1 567 Child Care Forums were established and supported to assist with early identification of orphans and vulnerable children.
• There are comprehensive places of safety and community-based interventions country-wide to provide care and psychological support to survivors of abuse.
Government urges all to uphold the rights of children and report all cases that undermine children’s rights to relevant authorities:
• We need a multi-sector approach to adequately address child poverty and end child-directed abuse and violence.
• Child Protection Week provides an opportunity for all of us to build the partnership and to ensure that children are protected from abuse and vulnerability.
• Whilst we enjoy hosting the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and 2010 World Cup, let us ensure the safety of all children.
• We need to highlight the issue of child trafficking and subsequent child exploitation for purposes of prostitution, forced labour, and muti-related crimes. At the same time, we need to highlight government’s plan and achievements in dealing with such crimes.
Child Exploitation PamphletKE NAKO, STOP CHILD ABUSE!!!
CRIME STOP: 08600 10 111
CHILDLINE: 0800 055 555 / www.childline.org.za
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: 0800 60 10 11 / www.dsd.gov.za