Minister Lindiwe Zulu to host virtual meeting that gives children a voice in the midst of Coronavirus pandemic
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across South Africa causing major disruptions in family life, concerns about the safety and wellbeing of children has significantly increased, with many of them currently out of school for an extended period of time and unable to play with their friends in their neighbourhoods.
To give children a voice in this unprecedented time, the Minister of Social Development Ms Lindiwe Zulu, will on Monday, 1 June 2020 host a virtual meeting with Child Ambassadors who represent all nine provinces. This will give children an opportunity to share their lived experience on issues affecting their lives such as home/online schooling, living under lockdown and measures that government and civil society organisations can put in place to ensure their protection.
The virtual meeting between the Minister and Child Ambassadors is held in celebration of the International Children’s Day on 1 June every year to draw attention to children’s rights as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC was amongst the first international instruments that South Africa ratified after its readmission to the international community post 1994.
The celebration of the International Children’s Day takes place in the context of the annual Child Protection Week campaign, which Minister Zulu officially launched in Rustenburg, North West Province yesterday under the theme: “Let us all protect children during COVID-19 and beyond”. This year’s campaign seeks to create greater awareness of the risks that children face in these uncertain times by engaging families and communities to take a stand against any form of child abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Members of the media are invited to join the virtual meeting between Minister Zulu and Child Ambassadors as follows:
Date: Monday, 1 June 2020
Time: 15h00-16h00
Venue: The engagement will be from GCIS, Ronnie Mamoepa Press Room, Tshedimosetso House, 1035 Francis Baard Street, Hatfield
The media can RSVP by contacting Ms Nomfundo Xulu-Lentsoane on 066 480 6845/e-mail: NomfundoLe@dsd.gov.za and Sharlene Naiker on 082 673 5849/e-mail: SharleneN@dsd.gov.za
Media Participation: Journalists may view the briefing via live streaming on the SA Government Facebook page, Twitter and YouTube channels on the links below.
Facebook: http://facebook.com/GovernmentZA
Twitter: http://twitter.com/GovernmentZA
YouTube: http://youtube.com/GovernmentZA
SABC will provide pool feed as follows:
Satellite Amos7 @ 4 West
Downlink 12649.5 Mhz V
Symbol Rate 2.7 MSym/s
Modulation 8PSK
Video HD H.264 @ 4.2.0
Enquiries:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: LumkaO@dsd.gov.za
