Programme director
Members of the Executive Council
Executive mayor
Councillors
Representatives of United Nations (UN) Agencies
Colleagues, friends
Our special guests, children
I extend warm greetings and well wishes to all of you from the Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities. Today we are commemorating the Day of the African Child. We are honouring the contribution that children of this country made in fighting apartheid and establishing the current democratic dispensation. We remember the youth of 1976 who took to the street fighting for better education.
Allow me, children, to tell you about my Ministry. It is intended to serve and promote the interests of women, children and persons with disabilities in the country. It is therefore going to look at all the issues that relate to you as children. That is why I was listening attentively as you were discussing this morning to ensure that I clearly understand your needs and desires. It is my wish that all children of this country are safeguarded, protected and allowed to develop into the young leaders of tomorrow. As our President has been stating over the past few weeks, we want to ensure that children go to school; respect their teachers and elders and stay away from drugs, alcohol and irresponsible behaviour.
I am hoping that the children here today will be the champions of educating other children about the danger of using drugs. Let us work together to ensure that children grow up free of drugs and alcohol.
We want you as children to grow up as healthy people that will positively determine your destiny in life. Government is committed to provide opportunities in education, health care, food security and safety. I urge all of you to assist us in this process, let us work together to improve the quality of life of our children irrespective of where they are.
Programme director, in accordance with the zeal to provide a country that is fit for children and of course with the aim of ensuring their survival we need to do more in advocating the obligations enshrined in the Constitution, the African Union Charter and the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In this respect, I am very pleased that, as children you engaged on the various articles of this convention. Article 22 in particular relates to the need to provide services to children who are seeking refugee status or who are considered refugees, whether unaccompanied or accompanied by their parents or by any other person. As a loving nation, these children should receive appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance. We also have to work together to ensure that these children are protected from discrimination and abuse.
Government has made efforts to improve the process of registering asylum seekers and refugees. Access to the asylum system should translate into the recognition of several rights including the right to study in South Africa.
I urge you as children to also take responsibility to attend school because without education, it will be extremely difficult to make it in life any where in the world. For you to live a good life when you grow up, you need to listen to your teachers and parents, study and pass.
Programme director I also acknowledge all that was echoed by the children delegates with regard to the need to recognise that a mentally or physically disabled child should enjoy a full and decent life. They should live in conditions that ensure dignity, promote self reliance and facilitate the child's active participation in the community.
Programme director, we face several challenges which need a collective approach. This ministry will focus on discouraging practices that are harmful to children.
For instance, we are currently paying great attention to the alleged practice of early and forced marriages referred to as Ukuthwala in some parts of the Eastern Cape. We are sending out a strong message that this practice should be stopped as a matter of urgency. It violates the human rights of young girls.
These girls should be afforded an opportunity to grow in a safe and caring environment. They should be allowed to mature and develop into young adults and be able to take informed decisions about their lives.
A common African practice is that it takes an entire village to raise a child. I want to urge that we continue with the spirit of Ubuntu that we grew up with. We need to go back to practices that fostered development and nurtured good family values and community spirit, and this equally applies to children who are refugees.
I call upon parents, families, members of civil society, schools and teachers to ensure that our children are protected, developed, safeguarded and nurtured.
With these few words, I wish you an enjoyable afternoon of activities. I hope you will enjoy the animals and nature during the tour this afternoon.
Remember that Bafana Bafana is playing tonight. Let us get together to support our team in this Confederation Cup and during the Soccer World Cup next year
Thank you
Issued by: The Presidency
20 June 2009
