Mpumalanga Social Development Officially Launches Children’s Rights Campaign
The Mpumalanga Department of Social Development in partnership with Touch A Million, a non-profit origination, launched the official provincial Children’s Days celebrations at the Kamhluhswa stadium in the Ehlanzeni District in Nkomazi municipality on the 21st November 2019.
This is off the benchmark of the of Universal Children’s Day which has been declared by the United Nations and celebrated internationally and annually on the 20th November, and leading up to 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Children abuse which is observed in South Africa from 25 November to 10 December.
In the words of our former President Nelson Mandela, “The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children,” is the foundation in which the day focused, on improving child welfare as well as promote and celebrate Children’s Rights and encourage the culture of learning through play.
“ If children’s rights are neglected, not protected or not known it will have an adverse impact on the moral compact of our society and will lead to other long-term social challenges at school level, community safety and crime level,” said Shirley Khoza Project Manager from Touch A Million.
The triple challenges that our communities face of poverty, inequality and unemployment often become a burden onto our children and exposes them to vulnerable environments of neglect, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. According to the South African Police Services Crime Statistics 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 saw an increase in the number of children murdered. The number of children killed in South Africa increased to 1014 (up 2.9%), meaning about 3 children die every day as a result of murder.
Sexual offences against children accounted for 24,387 (up 3.8%) of the reported crimes against minors, while 1,184 children were the victims of attempted murder (up 11.8%). Police investigated 7,815 cases of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (up 3.3%) and 10,829 cases of common assault (up 3.7%) involving children.
It is encouraging that the South African Police Service have plans that are underway to increase the number of family violence, child protection and sexual offences (FCS) units in the country and to bolster the number of officers, especially women detectives, to work in the units.
The South African Constitution’s Bill of Rights (Section 28) which outlines children’s rights and are also protected by law in the Children's Act, 38 of 2005 and are very clear on these rights and its upon communities working in collaboration with civil society and government to ensure their protection.
As such creating awareness about children’s rights in a safe, fun and educational manner is what the Mpumalanga Department of Social Development aimed to achieve. The day was filled with engaging activities and saw 1500 children participating and being educated about their rights through creative platforms such as music, spoken words and dialogue, banting making, puppet shows, magicians and industrial theatre.
Enquires:
Lebo Seoheng
Cell: 073 653 6734
E-mail: lebo@scintillatecomm.co.za
