Programme Director
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu
Former President F W de Klerk
Distinguished delegates
Ladies and gentlemen
I would like to first thank the KidsRights Foundation for organising this KidsRights Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Conference. This conference come at the best time when the whole world is focused on South Africa as it reaches the end of a very successful Soccer World Cup.
Before the commencement of this great festival of football, there were concerns that there would be a significant upsurge in the cases of human trafficking and other forms of abuse against women and children as a result of the hosting of the World Cup.
We responded as the ministry, government and civil society with an awareness campaign and put up systems to ensure that we protect women and children from abuse. These interventions have been complemented with tight security arrangements that have been put in place to ensure the safety of everyone. With only two days left before the end of the world cup, we are collating information from provinces to verify the impact of our interventions. The early indication is that our awareness campaign and security measures have been effective in preventing the anticipated major upsurge in the number of cases of human trafficking and other forms of abuse.
We have to continue to ensure the safety and well-being of children beyond the period of the World Cup. For instance, as we respond to the rumours of xenophobic threats and violence that are reported in the media, we are ensuring a strong focus on the well-being of unaccompanied migrant children.
We have initiated a project to assist vulnerable children in Musina, a town at South Africa’s border with Zimbabwe. The project sponsored by the people of Italy and implemented by Save the Children, ensures tracing, registration, social protection and reunification of these children with their families.
It is estimated that on average, there are always about 1 000 unaccompanied migrant children in Musina either living there or in transit to other major cities. Through this project, we are ensuring that these vulnerable children have access to basic services provided for in the Bill of Rights such as education, health and social services.
South Africa has made extraordinary advances over the past 16 years of democracy in improving the social conditions of our children. However, we are aware that there are still many social challenges facing us and these have a direct effect on children and women. There has been a significant increase in public expenditure and implementation of programme on health, education and provision of social support to vulnerable children. The increase in the houses build for the poor, provision of free basic services like water and electricity have had an impact in improving the lives of millions of our children. These social interventions have resulted in a decrease in the extent of absolute poverty.
One of the key achievements over the past decade and the half has been the establishment of a legislative framework with policies that protect the rights of children. Just this year, we commenced implementing the new Children’s Act and Child Justice Act which improves legal and social protection of children in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities is responsible for ensuring that the children’s rights issues are mainstreamed into all programmes of government and society.
For instance, we are ensuring that there is stronger focus on children in our health programmes including immunization and prevention of mother to-child transmission of HIV programmes. Actually, our country’s children have free access to health care up to the age of five years.
Education is one area where we have made significant progress, with the country actually attaining Millennium Goal 2 on Universal Access to Primary Education. Current data indicates that the gender parity index is consistently greater than one in favour of girls at secondary school level. There is however a need for government to put special measures to increase the number of young women enrolled in areas such as mathematics, science and technology. We cannot deny that we are still faced with major inequities in our society. The burden of poverty and unemployment falls unevenly on women and children. We know for instance that children in female headed households are more likely to experience poverty and hunger.
The current government has committed to intensify programmes to improve the social condition of children. We are increasing the number of children accessing child support grant up to the age of 18. Actually beneficiaries of this grant has increased from 22 000 in 1998 to 8 million children in 2008.
Going forward, our President, President Jacob Zuma has committed our country to intensifying the fight against HIV and AIDS which is a major factor in the high level of child mortality. The President has also led the way in committing our country to support the 1Goal campaign. He joined FIFA president Sepp Blatter, world leaders and star footballers from a number other countries to champion the cause of education for all at the global launch of the 1 Goal campaign.
As you know, 1 Goal campaign aims to recruit tens of millions of supporters through a mass sign-up campaign "to achieve a school place for the 72-million children out of school globally." And as Government of South Africa, we fully understand that most of these children are in our continent, Africa. These children could be our next generation of leaders, sports stars, doctors and teachers. But they face a lifelong struggle against poverty. It does not have to be this way.
Education beats poverty and gives people the tools to help themselves. Raising our voices all over the world we can together make education a reality for the millions of boys and girls who remain out of school. This is our chance to show not just to out-of-school children, but to our own children as well, that when we make a promise, we keep it. Let us fully utilise the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup as an opportunity to heighten this campaign.
In conclusion programme director, I must say that I am one of those who are not biased when it comes to the great match we are expecting on Sunday to end this wonderful tournament. I say let the best team win between Netherlands and Spain. This World Cup has been a wonderful and memorable experience for all our people.
Thank you very much and I wish you well in the rest of today’s deliberations.
