24 May 2006
The country will mark Child Protection Week (CPW), from 29 May to 4 June
2006, and all South Africans are urged to participate and intensify the
promotion of childrenâs rights and child protection, said Social Development
Minister, Dr Zola Skweyiya.
Through Child Protection Week, which was instituted in 1997, the Department
of Social Development and government as a whole seek to mobilise families,
stakeholders and communities to work together to address the complex
socio-economic needs of children.
âSince 1994, Government has introduced a host of programmes to protect
children from vulnerability. A total of 7 233 989 children have been registered
for the Child Support Grant while more than 330 000 receive the Foster Care
Grant. New laws, including the Childrenâs Bill and Sexual Offences Bill, mark
significant progress in arming our society to end the abuse of children and to
promote their rights and development.â
He added: âIt takes a village to raise a child, and the achievements we have
scored so far result from the co-operation of all sectors and communities.
However, despite all our achievements, a lot still need to be done by all to
promote childrenâs rights â the non-governmental and community based
organisations, labour, faith-based sector, the private sector, traditional
leaders, the media and many other interest groupsâ.
The CPW theme is âCaring Communities Protect Childrenâ, with the green
ribbon as the symbol of child protection. The concept of âmy child is your
child; your child is my childâ remains the cornerstone of child protection in
the country.
Dr Skweyiya raised concern about the ongoing media reports about children in
distress, and emphasised the need to strengthen families to provide a strong
social foundation for children. âA well-functioning family socialises and
teaches children acceptable societal norms and values. Children are nurtured,
supported and provided with opportunities for growth and development into
competent, productive, loved and loving adults. School performance increases as
well as productivity at the work place. Such families are able to ensure that
members, especially children, women and the elderly, are nurtured, loved and
protected from any form of abuse.ââ
The key objectives of the 2006 Child Protection Week include the
following:
* to promote the National Child Protection Register and encourage reporting
through this register, which will improve statistics of victim and
perpetrators
* to promote the spirit of caring communities by raising awareness on child
care initiatives such as child care forums and neighbourhood child protection
committees
* to promote access to the child support grant for children under the age of 14
years, and promote and strengthen poverty eradication programmes as a measure
of child protection
* to promote caring amongst children by ensuring the existence of child
participation programmes in schools, communities and other sectors.
* to strengthen inter-sectoral co-ordination and integration of services by
facilitating the establishment of provincial and local child protection
committees.
The observance of Child Protection Week is linked to the provisions of the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN Convention), and the
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Events
A series of events have been organised in all provinces to promote child
protection. The main event takes place in Galeshewe, Kimberley on 1 June, which
will mark a celebration of International Childrenâs Day and the launch of
national guidelines for Early Childhood Development.
It will be preceded by a media and stakeholder briefing on child protection
by Dr Skweyiya on 29 May 2006 at the Child and Family Training and Resource
Centre, 129. 11th Avenue, Region 7, Alexandra, Johannesburg.
For more information contact: Lakela Kaunda
Tel: (012) 312 7653
Cell: 082 782 2575
E-mail: Lakela.Kaunda@socdev.gov.za
Weblink: www.socdev.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Social Development
24 May 2006
