‘Child safety is everyone’s responsibility’
South Africans are being urged to create safer environments where children feel heard, protected and supported.
According to Girls and Boys Town South Africa (GBTSA), which operates a campus in Kagiso/ Randfontein, Child Protection Week (May 29 to June 5) should not only be observed as a moment on the national calendar, but as a daily reminder of the responsibility everyone carries to protect children and ensure they grow up in safe and caring environments.
This year’s theme, Working together in ending violence against children, highlights the need for communities, families, schools and organisations to stand together against abuse and neglect.
GBTSA said violence against children is not always visible and can often happen silently in homes, schools, digital spaces and in the personal struggles of children who feel unheard or unseen. The organisation stressed that although the effects of violence are serious, healing is possible when children receive the right support and care.
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The organisation, which works closely with vulnerable young people, said it regularly witnesses both the pain children carry from trauma and the strength they show while rebuilding their lives.
CEO Karen Farred said ending violence against children cannot be left to one organisation or sector alone.
“It requires all of us as a nation. It requires a society that chooses to see, to speak out, and to act,” said Farred.
She added that parents and caregivers need support, educators need empowerment, communities must remain vigilant, and systems must respond quickly and compassionately when children are at risk.
GBTSA also warned that children today face dangers beyond physical spaces, including online environments where exploitation and abuse can happen unnoticed. The organisation believes communities must respond with urgency, knowledge and collective responsibility to protect children both offline and online.
Farred encouraged South Africans to reflect on what it truly means to work together during Child Protection Week.
“This Child Protection Week, I plead with all South Africans to reflect deeply on what it means to truly work together. Not only in words, but in action,” she said.
The organisation concluded that every child deserves a safe childhood filled with dignity, care and protection, adding that building a more compassionate society is possible if everyone works together.
