Children’s report for plan on GBV, femicide launched in Benoni
School social workers should be available in every school, and teachers should be empowered to handle child abuse cases.
The Department of Social Development, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), launched the Children’s Report on the National Strategic Plan for Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF) at the Mary Moodley Child and Youth Care Centre in Benoni on October 19.
The launch marked the culmination of successful nationwide consultations with children from all nine provinces.
The event follows recommendations made by children at the second Presidential Summit in 2022, where they advocated for the addition of a seventh pillar to the NSP-GBVF, specifically addressing violence against children.
Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Tolashe, stakeholders from the National Prosecuting Authority, the SAPS, the Department of Education, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Foundation, Save the Children South Africa, and the Teddy Bear Foundation attended the launch.
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Presenting the children’s report, child ambassador Bokamuso Kubheka (14) said that under pillar one, children felt that in many communities, gender roles and stereotypes are contributing factors to violence.
“Children are not free to voice their opinions. The current NSP-GBVF document uses big words, which makes it difficult for children to understand. It’s not child-friendly.
“Children must be engaged in developing the proposed pillar to ensure child participation and decision-making in matters affecting them. The private and public sectors should prioritise boys and men by educating them on GBV prevention.”
Bokamuso noted that pillar two, which focuses on the prevention of violence and rebuilding social cohesion, is primarily concerned with violence against women, the elderly and people with disabilities but does not include children.
“Children should take part in decision-making and monitor implementation.”
Regarding pillar three – justice, safety, and protection – children highlighted loopholes in the justice system, citing corruption in the SAPS, tampered evidence and lost dockets.
“Children said they cannot even report cases because they are asked to bring an adult along. They recommended the government train more peer counsellors to support children and create a safety net for children within communities.”
24/7
For pillars four, five, and six, Bokamuso said children should be economically empowered and do their own research every three years to hold the government accountable for its promises.
“There is no clear pathway for children on where to go for services, and many promises made to children remain unfulfilled. Children recommended that support and services be accessible 24/7 in urban and rural communities.
“School social workers should be available in every school, and teachers should be empowered to handle child abuse cases.”
The proposed pillar seven marks a transformative step in ensuring children are protected and empowered to participate in decision-making processes concerning their well-being.
“Children should be actively involved in parliament. The government must involve children in all child-related drafts, and equal opportunities should be given to all children regardless of gender or sexuality. Children should not be underestimated, and parents should learn to accept their children’s sexual orientations,” Bokamuso added.
Dreams
Addressing the attendees, Tolashe emphasised the importance of including pillar seven in the current six pillars of the NSP-GBVF to ensure children’s experiences of violence are sufficiently addressed.
“Pillar seven’s inclusion also demonstrates an intersectional approach to violence against women and children because children are often cared for by women, meaning both are victims of violence to varying degrees.
“While the country has made strides in addressing violence against children, much more still needs to be done because we continue to confront high levels of violence against children.”
Tolashe added that the department’s collaboration with children sends a strong message of honouring the dreams and aspirations of Nelson Mandela, who said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
She said the report affirms the need for collective action to transform the lives of children through active engagement.
“Our actions must demonstrate a collective commitment that there is no space for GBV or violence against children in our families, schools, communities, workplaces and society,” Tolashe concluded.
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