The North West Department of Health and Social Development will host a provincial conference to discuss the new Children’s Act 38 of 2005 as amended under the theme “implementing the Children’s Act in the North West”. The aim of the conference is to converse the new act with all relevant stakeholders and to ensure a common understanding and interpretation to allow smooth, effective and efficient implementation of the act.
The new Children’s Act was promulgated on 1 April 2010 by the Deputy President, Kgalema Motlanthe, after the regulations of the act were finalised by both the Department of Social Development and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. This follows the initial promulgation of 43 of the 315 sections of the Children’s Act by the then President of the country President Thabo Mbeki on 1 July 2005 before the remaining sections were promulgated early this year. The Children’s Act 38 of 2007 was then amended by the children’s Amendment Act 41 of 2007 when the two acts were Amalgamated and the new act is now referred to as the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 as amended.
The new act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that seeks to afford children the necessary care and protection so they can develop to their full potential, in order to assume their responsibilities within the community. The Children’s Act repealed the Child Care Act which has been the primary statute for the provision of social services to children in the past two decades. The new children’s act sets out to bring to life and operationalise collective obligations to promote the preservation and strengthening of families, give effect to certain constitutional rights of children, protect children from discrimination, exploitation and any other physical, emotional or moral harm and hazards.
The act has 22 chapters, which deals with diverse issues which amongst others include, the protection of children and their rights, the age of majority, access to contraceptives at the age of 12, consent to medical treatment, surgical operations and HIV testing of children, adoption and inter-country adoptions, parental responsibilities and rights, social, cultural and religious practices.
The Children’s Act is currently the primary statute that guides and regulates the provision of social services to children in the Republic of South Africa.
You are therefore invited to attend and cover the conference which is scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: 18 November 2010
Time: 09h00
Venue: Mmabatho Palms
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
