The Department of Social Development will launch the 2013 National Child Protection Week (CPW) on 27 May 2013 at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC).
Child Protection Week is commemorated in the country annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Children's Act of 2005. The campaign that began in 1997 also aims to mobilise all sectors of society and communities in the effort of ensuring care and protection for children.
This year the CPW will be commemorated from 27 May to 2 June 2013. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Working Together to Protect Children”.
Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth conference
The launch of the CPW will correspond with the opening of the Orphans, Vulnerable Children and Youth (OVCY) Conference on 27 May 2013.
The Department of Social Development and its key strategic partners has, through the National Action Committee for children affected by HIV and AIDS (NACCA), hosted two previous OVCY conferences, in 2002 and 2006. The conferences served to promote and strengthen coordination among different role-players providing services to orphans and other vulnerable children and youth.
This year’s conference will be held under the theme “Changing Children’s Lives – What Works”. It will cover tracks on strengthening families and community based responses as a support system for OVCY; peer sharing and learning about best practices for enhancing availability of high quality, timely data for policy and programmatic decision making; addressing factors that render children vulnerable and exploring effective approaches to build resilience; and showcasing best practices in strengthening coordination among key stakeholders.
The conference ends 30 May 2013.
Members of the media are invited to cover the launch of the CPW and OVCY conference. For accreditation purposes, please send your name, ID/passport number and media house to jaconiak@dsd.gov.za / 082 313 4673.
NB: No media will be allowed access without media accreditation. Media to RSVP by 20 May 2013 midday.
For media enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
