Programme director
My colleague, Minister of Social Development
Management of the Abraham Kriel Children’s Centre
Municipal Mayors and Counsellors
Members of civil society organisations
Officials from different departments
Representatives of various civil society organisations
Members of the media
Our most important guests, children
We are today launching the Child Protection Week under the theme: “Working together to protect children”
The theme is based on our view as government that protection of children and creating a safe and secure environment is a responsibility of each and every one of us. We need to strengthen our collective efforts against child abuse, neglect and exploitation.
There are a number of activities planned by various government departments, provincial governments and non-governmental organisations to use this period to increase community awareness and highlight the plight of children in our country.
As the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, we will be focusing on the challenges facing children in child headed households. We want to ensure that these children access the various services that government has made available for children.
This includes:
- Free education through enrolment in the no fee schools
- Social support through child support or foster care grants
- And various health programmes essential for survival of children
We will be visiting some of the child headed households in Northern Cape on 4 June.
The Child Protection Week also covers International Children’s Day and the Day of the African Child which will be observed on 1 June. We are very excited that the activities for this day include a strong focus on Early Childhood Development in line with the decision to include education amongst the five key priorities of government.
Early Childhood Development has been legislated in the Children’s Act. This move seeks to ensure that the right to stimulation, cognitive development and as well as readiness for school are realised. Government target is to ensure that through the combination of public, private and subsidised Grade R programmes, all five to six year old children should have access to Grade R programmes by 2014.
One of the greatest challenges facing our country is the scourge of violence against children. We have too many children being attacked, raped and killed. The annual South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics indicate increases in cases of attempted murder, murder and sexual offences against children between 2008/09 and 2009/10 financial years.
Attempted murder against children increased from 782 to 1 113 and murder from 843 to 965. Most of the crimes have been committed against children between ages of 15 to 17 years but we are equally concerned that children between 0 to10 years are also affected by these crimes.
The extent of violence against children requires that we take extra measures to address this scourge in the same way as we dealt with HIV and AIDS. Acknowledging the magnitude and complexity of the factors driving this scourge, we are establishing an advisory council comprising of key government departments, civil society organisations and other relevant partners. This Advisory Council is going to strengthen and coordinate the implementation of 365 National Plan of Action to End Violence against Women and Children.
Many organisations are making an effort to address the problem of abuse of women and children. We want to ensure that these initiatives are coordinated within a multi sectoral response to reverse the tide of violence against women and children.
Let us work together to stop violence and abuse of children. We all have an obligation to report these cases and ensure that those responsible face the full might of the law.
Working together, we can protect our children.
Thank you.
Source: Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities
