Acknowledgement
Preface
Introduction
1. Current situation of children
2. The Action Programme Framework and its components
3. Nutrition
4. Child and maternal health
5. Water and sanitation
6. Early childhood development and basic education
7. Social welfare development
8. Leisure and cultural activities
9. Child protection measures
10. General measures for implementing and sustaining commitment to the NPA
11. Summary of sectors responsible for implementing the NPA
Appendix A
Appendix B
Acknowledgement
The National Programme of Action Steering Committee wishes to acknowledge the following organisations and individuals for their contributions to the development of this report:
Alyssa Wigton and Marian Jacobs of the Child Health Policy Group, UCT (supported by a grant from the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation), Peter Newell of the Child Rights Development Unit (United Kingdom), Lesley Henley, (Institute of Child Health, UCT), Linda Biersteker and Mary Newman (Early Learning Resource Unit), Heather Jacklin (Department of Education, University of Cape Town), Omar Badsha (Ikapa), Ray Lazarus (Centre for Health Policy, University of the Witwatersrand), and Richard Morgan, (UNICEF, SEAR).
Sectoral working groups of the Steering Committee, representatives of the respective government departments, representatives of provincial committees, the National Committee for the Rights of Children (NCRC), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and non-governmental organisations made substantive contributions through their participation in this process and making available information derived from governmental and non-governmental publications and policy documents. This publication was made possible by a grant from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Any part of the Framework for a National Programme of Action for Children in South Africa may be reproduced with the appropriate acknowledgement.
31 May 1996
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Preface
At the 1990 United Nations World Summit for Children, over one hundred and fifty-nine countries pledged to enhance the survival, protection and development of millions of children throughout the world. South Africa adopted these goals for its own children and, in June 1995, ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC is an internationally endorsed set of fundamental rights for all children.
These events marked a major step forward in the Government of National Unity's commitment toward improving the well-being of children in South Africa.
This framework for the National Programme of Action outlines the actions that South Africa will take to implement its commitment to children.
If you wish to comment on the framework, or would like to make a contribution to the National Programme of Action, please contact:
Dr G Mtshali
Chairperson: National Programme of Action Steering Committee
Department of Health
Private Bag X828
Pretoria, 0001
Tel: (012) 312-0097; Fax: (012) 312-6286.
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Introduction
On June 16 1995, the South African Government of National Unity ratified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). In so doing, it committed South Africa to implementing the principle of a "first call for children" whereby the needs of children are considered paramount throughout the government's programmes, services and development strategies. This principle was adopted by the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) and is the basis of South Africa's commitments to children.
The National Programme of Action (NPA) is the instrument by which these commitments to children are being carried out. It is a mechanism for identifying all plans for children developed by government departments, non-governmental organisations and other child-related structures, and for ensuring that all these plans converge in the framework provided by the CRC, the goals of the 1990 World Summit for Children, and the Reconstruction and Development Programme.
In April 1996, the Cabinet approved the NPA framework and its implementation by the relevant ministries and departments. The NPA framework is not a separate plan for children: it is an integration of all the policies and plans developed by government departments and non-governmental organisations to promote the well-being of children.
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1. Current situation of children
The 1990 World Summit for Children set specific goals for the survival, protection and development of the world's children.
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World Summit for Children: Social goals for the year 2000
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In many areas, significant improvements must be made in the status of South African children in order to reach these goals by the year 2000. Accurate national data are not available to describe all components of the current status of children's well-being and this is another site for improvement.
Many governmental and non-governmental services, programmes and groups are concerned with improving the well-being of South African children.
Within the national government, an Interministerial Core Group1 has been appointed by the Cabinet to oversee the process of the National Programme of Action for Children. A National Steering Committee comprising Directors-General of the seven appointed ministries, the National Committee for the Rights of Children (CRC), and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has been established to oversee co-ordination, implementation and monitoring of the National Programme of Action (NPA) and to ensure that it accords with the commitments of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In addition, several of the Presidential Lead Programmes of the Reconstruction and Development Programme focus on children and include programmes for rural and urban renewal and human resource development and - more specifically - for the promotion of the health, education, welfare and protection of children.
Within the non-governmental sector, there are numerous organisations, networks, alliances and community development institutions that dedicate their work to improving children's lives.
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2. The Action Programme Framework and its components
The policy priorities adopted by the Steering Committee for the National Programme of Action for Children in South Africa are:
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Policy priorities for children
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These are the policy areas on which the country's progress in meeting the mandates of the CRC will be reported. They also provide a child-centred focus by which all government departments are able to identify their commitments to promoting specific policies for children.
Within each of these policy areas, special attention will be paid to the needs of children living in difficult circumstances, or with special needs, such as children who are homeless, living in poverty, abused, orphaned, disabled, have chronic illnesses or are the victims of violence.
For each policy area, implementation of the NPA will be guided by the following specific components:
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Components to guide implemenation of the NPA by areas of policy
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Sources to be mobilised include the Treasury, donor funding, and the private sector. A mechanism for re-prioritising sectoral activities to focus on resources for children is also being considered. The monitoring plan will include baseline data, indicators, plans for regular and timely collection, analysis and publication of data, and consideration of constraints.
In this framework, a summary of national goals, relevant CRC articles, responsible lead and supporting sectors, and national strategies within the priority policy areas are presented. Identification of relevant resource requirements, resource mobilisation strategies and a monitoring plan will be the responsibility of each of the respective sectors.
Provincial plans of action based on provincial needs and resources have also been developed in accordance with this framework.
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3. Nutrition
I. Goals
- Reduction in severe, as well as moderate malnutrition among children under five to half of 1990 levels
- Reduction of the rate of low birth weight rate (2,5 kg or less) to less than 10%
- Reduction of iron deficiency anaemia in women by one third of the 1990 levels
- Virtual elimination of iodine deficiency disorders by 1995
- Virtual elimination of vitamin A deficiency and its consequences
- Empowerment of all women to breast-feed their children exclusively for four to six months and to continue breast-feeding, with complementary food, well into the second year
- Growth promotion and its regular monitoring to be institutionalised in all countries by the end of the 1990s
- Ensurance that 75% of all maternity hospitals are "mother- and baby-friendly"
- Ensurance that all household members, regardless of age and gender, have adequate access to food to cover their basic nutrient needs.
II. Relevant articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Article 3: Best interests of the child
- Article 6: Survival and development
- Article 17: Access to appropriate information and materials (especially those aimed at the promotion of physical and mental health)
- Article 23: Children with disabilities
- Article 24: Access to health and health services
- Article 26: Social security
- Article 27: Standard of living
III. Responsible lead and supporting sectors
- Lead sectors: Agriculture, Health
- Supporting sectors: Labour, Land Affairs, Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting, RDP, South African Communication Services, Trade and Industry, Water Affairs and Forestry, Welfare and Population Development.
IV. National strategies
- Development of a National Integrated Nutrition Programme
- Development of a National Nutrition Information System
- Reduction of low-birth weight rate
- Reduction of micro-nutrient deficiency disorders
- Improvement of breast-feeding rates
- Promotion of oral rehydration therapy and continued feeding in diarrhoea disease
- Improvement of growth promotion and monitoring
- Improvement of household food security.
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4. Child and maternal health
I. Goals
- Eradication of poliomyelitis by 1998
- Elimination of neonatal tetanus by 1995
- Reduction by 90% of measles cases (compared to pre-immunisation levels) by 1995 and reduction in measles deaths by 95% by 2000
- At least 90% of children under one year of age to be fully immunised against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, poliomyelitis, tuberculosis by 2000
- At least 90% of women of childbearing age to be fully immunised against tetanus by 2000
- Reduction of 1990 maternal mortality rate by 50% by 2000
- Reduction by 50% in the deaths due to diarrhoea in children under the age of five years and a 25% reduction in the diarrhoea incidence rate by 2000
- Reduction by one third in the deaths due to acute respiratory infections in children under five years by 2000.
II. Relevant articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Article 2: Non-discrimination
- Article 3: Best interests of the child
- Article 6: Survival and development
- Article 12: Child's opinion
- Article 17: Access to appropriate information and materials (especially those aimed at the promotion of physical and mental health).
- Article 18: Parental responsibilities
- Article 23: Children with disabilities
- Article 24: Access to health and health service
- Article 26: Social security
- Article 27: Standard of living
- Article 28: Education
- Article 39: Rehabilitative care
III. Responsible lead and supporting sectors
- Lead sector: Health
- Supporting sectors: Agriculture, Education, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Housing, RDP, South African Communication Services, Water Affairs and Forestry and Welfare and Population Development.
IV. National strategies
Develop programmes to deal with the following:
- A national health system
- Injury prevention
- School health services
- Mental health services
- Children with disabilities
- Maternal and child health programmes and interventions
- Chronic illness and HIV/AIDS
- Adolescent health.
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5. Water and sanitation
I. Goals
- At least 90% of the population should have access to safe drinking water, effective latrines, effective disposal of waste and suitable washing facilities for personal hygiene by the year 2000
- All health care facilities should have access to adequate safe domestic water supplies, effective sanitation facilities, and practise acceptable sanitary standards by 1997
- All crèches and schools should maintain acceptable sanitary standards and have access to adequate safe domestic water supplies and effective sanitation facilities by 2000
- At least one adult member of each household in South Africa should have a basic knowledge of the hygiene principles relating to water and sanitation by 2000
II. Relevant articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Article 3: Best interests of the child
- Article 6: Survival and development
- Article 20: Protection of children without families
- Article 22: Refugee children
- Article 23: Children with disabilities
- Article 24: Health and health services
- Article 26: Social security
- Article 27: Standard of living.
III. Responsible lead and supporting sectors
- Lead sector: Constitutional Development, Housing, Water Affairs and Forestry
- Supporting sectors: Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Health, Home Affairs, Education, Land Affairs, Public Works, RDP.
IV. National strategies
- Development of standards and policies for sanitation policy
- Education and training programmes
- Subsidies for provision of basic water and sanitation
- Planning and implementation of water and sanitation projects
- Monitoring the provision of water and sanitation services
- Assessment of community needs and problems.
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6. Early childhood development and basic education
I. Goals
- Expansion of early childhood development activities, including appropriate low-cost family and community-based interventions
- Universal access to basic education, and achievement of primary education by at least 80% of primary school-age children through formal school, or non-formal education of comparable learning standards
- Reduction of the adult illiteracy rate to at least half its 1990 level
- Increased acquisition by individuals and families of the knowledge, skills and values required for better living, made available through all educational channels, including the mass media, other forms of modern and traditional communication and social action, with effectiveness measured in terms of behavioural change.
II. Relevant articles of the convention on the rights of the child
- Article 2: Non-discrimination
- Article 5: Parental guidance and the child's evolving capacities
- Article 12: The child's opinion
- Article 13: Freedom of expression
- Article 14: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
- Article 17: Access to appropriate information
- Article 18: Parental responsibilities
- Article 23: Children with disabilities
- Article 28: Education
- Article 29: Aims of education
- Article 31: Leisure, recreation and cultural activities.
III. Responsible lead and supporting sectors
- Lead sectors: Education, Welfare and Population Development (up to age 5)
- Supporting sectors: Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Health, Housing, Labour, Mineral and Energy Affairs, Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting, RDP, South African Communication Services, Sports and Recreation, and Water Affairs and Forestry.
IV. National strategies
- Development of policies and standards for curriculum, training, facilities and materials
- Development of subsidies, an information system, and training and other standards for early childhood development
- Education support services including school health, social work and psychological services
- Specialised education
- Monitoring and evaluation of education programmes.
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7. Social welfare development (family environment, out-of-home care and social security)
1. Goals
- To ensure that appropriate social welfare services are provided for children, especially those living in poverty, those who are vulnerable and those who have special needs. These services should include preventive and protective services, facilities, social relief and social security programmes
- To promote and strengthen the partnerships within governmental departments, and between government and organisations in civil society which are involved in the delivery of social services
- To give effect to international conventions of the United Nations that have been ratified by the Government of National Unity
- To realise the relevant objectives of the Constitution, and the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP)
II. Relevant articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Article 3: Best interests of the child
- Article 5: Parental guidance and the child's evolving capacities
- Article 6: Survival and development
- Article 9: Separation from parents
- Article 11: Illicit transfer and non-return
- Article 18: Parental responsibilities
- Article 19: Protection from abuse and neglect
- Article 20: Protection of children without families
- Article 21: Adoption
- Article 22: Refugee status
- Article 23: Children with disabilities
- Article 25: Periodic review of placement
- Article 26: Social security
- Article 27: Standard of living
- Article 32: Child labour
- Article 33: Illicit use of narcotic drugs
- Article 34: Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse
- Article 35: Sale, trafficking and abduction
- Article 36: Other forms of exploitation
- Article 37: Inhumane treatment or punishment
- Article 39: Rahabilitative care
III. Responsible lead and supporting sectors
- Lead sectors: Welfare and Population Development
- Supporting sectors: Arts and Culture, Science and Technology, Education, Health, Justice, Labour, Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting, RDP, South African Communication Services, South African Police Services, Sports and Recreation.
IV. National strategies
Develop structures or programmes to deal with the following:
- Welfare
- Pre-school children
- School-going children
- Violence
- Child abuse and neglect
- Street / homeless children
- Substance abuse
- Child offenders
- Child labour
- Out-of-home care
- Children of divorcing, divorced, separated and single parents.
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8. Leisure and cultural activities
I. Goal
- To provide all children with the opportunity to engage in leisure, recreation and cultural activities
II. Relevant articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Article 13: Freedom of expression
- Article 14: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
- Article 15: Freedom of association
- Article 28: Education
- Article 29: Aims of education
- Article 30: Children of minorities or indigenous peoples
- Article 31: Leisure, recreation and cultural activities
- Article 32: Child labour
- Article 36: Exploitation of children.
III. Responsible lead and supporting sectors
- Lead sector: Arts and Culture, Science and Technology and Sport and Recreation
- Supporting sectors: Education, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Housing and RDP.
IV. National strategies
- Development of Arts, Culture, Heritage, Film, Library and Information Councils, Foundations and Forums
- Strategies to ensure that children have equitable access to facilities.
- Strategies to ensure that there are public resources for culture, arts, heritage, film, information programmes and sports and recreational activities
- Development of curriculum and training for leisure and cultural activities.
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9. Child protection measures
I. Goals
- To ensure that the best interests of the child are protected within the criminal and civil justice system
- To ensure that the child has the right
- to security and the relevant social services
- not to be subject to neglect or abuse
- not to be subject to exploitative labour practices nor to be required or permitted to do work which is hazardous or harmful to the child's education or well-being
- in criminal matters, to be treated in a way that takes account of his or her age
- Within the framework of 1 and 2 above, to
- establish a separate juvenile criminal justice system
- address the problems related to children who are involved in all forms of abuse, including sexual abuse
- protect children from using and trafficking in narcotic drugs
- address problems relating to children of divorcing, divorced or separated parents and to children of single parents
- eliminate any form of racial, gender or geographic discrimination or imbalances still existing in the criminal and civil justice system in respect of children
- promote justice that is sensitive to children, with an emphasis on the training of personnel who work with children in the justice system
- In the attainment of the above, to promote and strengthen the partnerships within state departments and between state departments and organisations in civil society which are involved in the administration of justice
- To link the entire question of children in the civil and criminal justice system to broader developmental issues
- To promote the Convention on the Rights of the Child within a broader framework of a human rights culture and to make the public and people in the justice system aware of it
II. Relevant articles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Article 2: Protection of the child's rights
- Article 3: Best interests of the child
- Article 5: Rights and duties of parents and legal guardians
- Article 9: Right not to be separated from parents
- Article 11: Measures to be taken by state parties to combat the illicit transfer and non-return of children abroad
- Article 12: Right to express views and views to be given due weight and the right to be heard in judicial proceedings
- Article 13: Right to impart information through any medium
- Article 15: Freedom of association and freedom of peaceful assembly
- Article 16: Privacy
- Article 17(e): Protection from injurious information and material
- Article 18: Parental responsibilities
- Article 19: Protection from all physical and mental violence, abuse, injury, neglect, exploitation which shall include measures providing effective procedures to support, prevent, identify, report, investigate, treat and follow up instances of child maltreatment
- Article 20: Right to special protection and assistance provided by the State
- Article 21: Adoption
- Article 22: Refugee children
- Article 23: Children with disabilities
- Article 25: Periodic review of treatment
- Article 26: Social security
- Article 27: Standard of living
- Article 28: Education
- Article 30: Children of minorities or of indigenous peoples
- Article 32: Child labour
- Article 33: Drug abuse
- Article 34: Sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (including commercial sexual exploitation)
- Article 35: Sale, trafficking and abduction
- Article 36: Other forms of exploitation
- Article 37: Children deprived of their liberty
- Article 38: Children in armed conflict
- Article 39: Rehabilitation for child victims
- Article 40: Rights of juvenile offenders.
III. Responsible lead and supporting sectors
- Lead sectors: Correctional Services, Justice, South African Police Service, Safety and Security and Welfare and Population Development
- Supporting sectors: Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Science and Technology, Education, Foreign Affairs, Health, Home Affairs, Labour, RDP, Safety and security, Sports and Recreation and the President's Office.
IV. National strategies
- Training, policies and legislation
- Child protection
- Child-sensitive justice
- Safe borders
- Substance abuse
- Offenders
- Victims
- Juvenile justice prevention and administration
- Child labour
- Child welfare and children's court
- Refugee children
- Child abuse
- Abduction
- Family and customary law reform (guardianship, adoption and maintenance)
- Implementation.
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10. General measure for implementing and sustaining commitment to the NPA
The actions that have been listed in this document relate to implementing the key policy areas of the NPA. In addition, the following measures will facilitate general implementation of the NPA:
- Mechanisms at provincial and local levels for co-ordinating policies relating to children and for monitoring implementation of the CRC
- Measures to harmonise national law and policy with the CRC
- Measures to make the CRC widely known to children and adults
- Measures to make reports widely available
- Plans to examine current arrangements for responding to natural disasters and man-made calamities
- Plans to support further research which will close knowledge gaps.
The NPA is also recommending the development of several structures to ensure sustained commitment during implementation of the NPA. Structural options include:
A National Structure for Children: to promote the rights and interests of children, to co-ordinate policies relating to children at the national level, and to promote full implementation of the CRC.
Technical Advisory Committees: comprising individuals or representatives of institutions who have the technical experience required to support the actions of the implements and to monitor progress; they should be appointed by the Steering Committee.
Conclusion
South Africa will assume responsibility for giving "first call" to children and to adhering to the Convention for the Rights of the Child, through the implementation of the National Programme of Action for Children.
Implementation of the NPA will involve all departments and offices of government at all levels, as well as non-governmental organisations and all sectors of society. The process of applying the Convention's standards and principles will be built into the core of government and into all existing co-ordinating and policy development structures, including, centrally, the Reconstruction and Development Programme.
This NPA report provides a framework for national activities, for the development and implementation of programmes of action at provincial and local levels, and for identifying the resources needed, strategies for using resources, and a monitoring plan. Through its implementation, South Africa will take a significant step towards fulfilling children's rights, and improving their overall health and well-being.
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11. Summary of sectors responsible for implementing the NPA
| Policy Area | Sector(s) with Lead Responsibility | Supporting Sectors |
| Nutrition | Agriculture, Health | Labour, Land Affairs, Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting, RDP, South African Communication Services, Trade and Industry, Water Affairs and Forestry, Welfare and Population Development |
| Child and Maternal Health | Health | Agriculture, Education, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Housing, RDP, South African Communication Services, Water Affairs and Forestry, Welfare and Population Development |
| Water and Sanitation | Housing, Water Affairs and Forestry, Constitutional Development | Agriculture, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Health, Home Affairs, Education, Land Affairs, Public Works, RDP |
| Early Childhood Development and School Education | Education, Welfare and Population Development | Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Health, Housing, Labour, Mineral and Energy Affairs, Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting, RDP, South African Communication Services, Sports and Recreation, Water Affairs and Forestry |
| Social Welfare Development (Family Environment, Out-of-Home Care and Social Security) | Welfare and Population Development | Arts and Culture, Science and Technology, Education, Health, Justice, Labour, Posts, Telecommunications and Broadcasting, RDP, South African Communication Services, South African Police Services, Sports and Recreation |
| Leisure and Cultural Activities | Arts and Culture, Science and Technology, Sport and Recreation | Education, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Housing, RDP |
| Child Protection Measures | Correctional Services, Justice, South African Police Service, Safety and Security, Welfare and Population Development | Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Science and Technology, Education, Foreign Affairs, Health, Home Affairs, Labour, RDP, Safety and Security, Sports and Recreation, the President's Office |
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Appendix A: Articles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child relevant to each government department
Agriculture: Article 32 (with Labour) - child labour in agriculture; Articles 6 and 24 (with Health) - implications for children's health of agriculture policy, e.g. nutrition, pollution, accident prevention etc.; general: relevance of agriculture policy to alleviating discrimination against rural children.
Arts and Culture, Science and Technology: Article 31 - right of child to play and recreation; to participate freely in cultural life and the arts; Article 30, and (with Education) Articles 28 and 29 - language rights of children; Article 24 - implications of language policy for children's health; also implications of science and technology policies; Article 36 - no exploitation of children in scientific research.
Constitutional Affairs: ensuring consistency of the Constitution with the Convention; full consideration of the particular difficulties for children in ensuring constitutional rights, and recognition as in the Convention of children's "evolving capacities".
Correctional Services: Article 3.3 - standards for institutions; Articles 37 and 40 restriction of liberty and administration of juvenile justice (also consideration of three other relevant UN instruments: Beijing Rules etc.).
Defence: Article 38 - armed conflicts; age of recruitment to armed forces; effects on children of armed conflicts in which South African defence forces are involved within and outside South Africa.
Education: Articles 28 and 29 - provision and aims of education; Article 31 (with Arts and Culture) - right of child to play, leisure, recreation and to participate freely in cultural life and arts; Article 42 - making Convention known.
Environmental Affairs and Tourism: Article 24 (with Health) - right to a safe environment; disproportionate effects on children of environmental pollution; Article 28 (with Education) development of respect for natural environment; Article 31 - implications of environmental policies for children's right to play and recreation.
Finance: Article 4 - Implementation to maximum extent of available resources; implies consideration of Convention in budgeting, allocation of GNP etc. (with all ministries).
Foreign Affairs: obligations under Convention for international co-operation (mentioned in Articles 17, 21, 23, 24, 27, 28, 34, 38, 39). Ensuring foreign aid programmes and policies are compatible with commitments to children and consistent with Convention (integration with function of Inter-Departmental Committee for International Development Co-ordination).
Health: Article 2 - Non-discrimination; Article 3 - Best interests of the child; Articles 6 and 24 - child's right to health and to optimal development, and to health services; Article 17 Access to appropriate information and materials (especially those aimed at the promotion of physical and mental health); Article 23 - Children with disabilities; Article 27 - Standard of living.
Home Affairs: Articles 7, 10, 11, 22 - nationality, immigration, refugee children.
Housing: Article 24 (with health) - implications of housing for health; Article 27 - special needs and requirements of children in relation to housing; Article 31 - implications of housing policy for children's rights to play and recreation.
Justice: Articles 1-9; 11-13; 15-23; 25-28; 30; 32-36; Articles 37-40 (with Correctional Services, Safety and Security) - protection of children from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment and from arbitrary or unlawful restrict of liberty; distinct system of juvenile justice with emphasis on avoiding judicial proceedings and institutional placements.
Labour: Article 32 - child labour; Article 28 - vocational information and guidance. Implications of ILO instruments for children.
Land Affairs: Article 27 - implications for adequate standard of living for children; seeking to end discrimination against rural children; Article 31 - implications for children's right to play and recreation of land use and ownership.
Mineral and Energy Affairs: Articles 6 and 24 (with health) - implications of policies for children's health (including mining, pollution, health and safety at work, electrification); with health, education etc. - relevance of electrification and access to appropriate and affordable energy to achieving children's rights.
Posts, Telecommunication and Broadcasting: Article 17 - children's access to appropriate information; protection of children from injurious information; respect for linguistic needs and rights of children; Article 13 - children's right to freedom of expression, contribution of the media; Articles 28 and 29 (with Education) - contribution of media to education; Articles 6 and 24 (with Health) - contribution of the media to children's health; Article 31 - contribution of media to children's cultural, artistic rights.
Provincial Affairs, Constitutional Development and Local Government: ensure that the commitment to children and implementation of the Convention is taken up at local level; that, for example, there is proper consideration of involvement of children and consideration of children's views throughout provincial and local government and in all constitutional development .
Public Enterprises: ensure accountability to children and their needs and rights in stewardship over public resources.
Public Works: Articles 6 and 24 (with Health) - implications of built environment policies for children's health (and, for example, for their right to play and recreation); Built Environment Councils' aims and work must reflect commitments to children.
Safety and Security: Articles 37 and 40 (with Justice and Correctional Services) - ensure a police service responsive to children's needs and rights; Article 19 (with Justice, Health, Welfare and Population Development, Education) - right of children to be protected from all forms of physical or mental violence; ensure that crime prevention/community safety policies reflect particular importance of children and involve children directly.
Sport and Recreation: Articles 6 and-24 (with Health) - relevance of sport and recreation to children's health; Articles 28 and 29 (with Education) - relevance of sport and recreation to education; Article 31 - right of children to play and recreation.
Trade and Industry: Articles 6 and 24 (with Health) - relevance of consumer protection to children's health; ensure that policy objectives are consistent with commitments to children - e.g. effects of industrialisation; (with Labour and Welfare and Population Development) respecting needs of childbearing in employment etc.
Transport: Articles 6 and 24 (with Health) - implications of transport policy for children's health (accidents, pollution etc.); Article 28 (with Education) - implications of transport policy for right of access to education; Article 23 - implications of transport policy for disabled children; Article 31 - implications of transport policy for children's right to play and recreation (e.g. children's mobility often threatened by roads development etc.).
Water Affairs and Forestry: Article 24 - (with health) right to clean water and sanitation; (with Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and Land Affairs) environmental rights of children; Article 31 - child's right to leisure, play and recreation; Article 28 (with Education) development of respect for natural environment.
Welfare and Population Development: Article 1 - definition of child, age of majority, and other ages at which particular rights are gained; Articles 5 and 18 - State's duty to respect responsibilities and rights of parents; parental responsibilities; State's duty to render appropriate assistance to parents; Article 7 - registration of birth, right to a name etc.; Articles 9, 20, 3.3 - limit separation of child from parents; special protection for children without families; institution and services must conform to standards; Article 10 - family reunification; Articles 11 and 35 - illicit transfer, non-return, abduction of children; Article 21 - adoption, including inter-country; Article 24 - (with Health) family planning; Article 26 - child's right to benefit from social security; Article 27 - (with other ministries) right of child to adequate standard of living; State's obligation to assist parents; State's obligation to secure maintenance for children from both parents.
Without Portfolio (RDP): General responsibility together with all ministries to ensure Reconstruction and Development Programme is linked throughout to full implementation of the Convention.
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Appendix B: National Programme of Action Steering Committee
| CHAIRPERSON Dr O Shisana Director-General: Department of Health |
HEALTH Dr G Mtshali Dr RE Mhlanga Ms HE de Klerk |
WELFARE Dr DDM Nghatsane Ms RR Ramphenyane Dr E Harvey |
| JUSTICE Mr LGS Bassett |
MPUMALANGA Ms E Ngwenya |
KWAZULU-NATAL Dr PS Maharaj |
| WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY Mr M Muller |
NATIONAL CHILDREN'S RIGHTS COMMITTEE Ms R September |
FINANCE Ms I Woolard Ms A Malan |
| EASTERN CAPE Ms N Khumalo |
NORTHERN PROVINCE Ms FJ Venter |
NORTHERN CAPE Mr D van Heerden |
| FOREIGN AFFAIRS Ms ME Olivier Ms RM Meiring |
EDUCATION Ms PT Tyobeka Ms S Nomvete |
GAUTENG Dr CA Marshall Ms M Davids |
| RDP OFFICE Dr BL Fanaroff Ms L Mokate |
WESTERN CAPE Ms M Heyns Ms F Bhunu |
SECRETARIAT Mr D Naude Department of Health |
| CONSULTANTS Prof M Jacobs Ms A Wigton (Child Health Unit) |
NORTH-WEST Mr AS Theron |
FREE STATE Mr Viviers |
| UNICEF Ms S Kimaryo Mr N Memon Dr V Orinda Mr I MacLeod Mr A Tadesse |
1. Seven nominated ministries represented are Health, Education, Welfare, Water Affairs and Forestry, Finance, Justice and Minister without Portfolio (RDP).
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