‘We Commit’ commits to ending violence against children
The 'We Commit' team wants the following: to create an understanding of why it is important to end all forms of violence against children.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Media Monitoring Africa, The SABC Foundation, The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) partnered in an initiative called ‘We Commit’.
The group held a masterclass and discussion panel on September 3, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westcliff. The whole aim of the initiative was to create awareness about violence against children in South Africa.
According to statistics from the group, one in three children in our country are hurt by their parents or caregiver. One in five children experiences sexual abuse before they turn 18 years old.
The team is determined to build a country which protects children. Beth Amato was there to do the masterclass with attendees.
Amato is a freelance journalist who won Media Monitoring Africa’s 2017 Isi Elihle Award for her story on a young offender, she has also been recently awarded a Dart Centre fellowship to report on fatherhood in South Africa.
On the panel were: Mayke Huijbregts who is the chief of Child Protection at UNICEF, Children Radio Foundation participant: Palesa Motaung, Zuko Masabalala from Web Rangers, Dr Chandre Gould who is the senior research fellow on the Justice and Crime Prevention Programme, Reggy Moalusi who is the Editor in Chief for the Daily/Sunday Sun, and Iris Cupido who is the CEO of the SABC Foundation.
The ‘We Commit’ team wants the following: to create an understanding of why it is important to end all forms of violence against children and to put pressure on all stakeholders to make this a priority.
For political parties and Members of Parliament to speak about the importance of ending violence against children both publicly and privately.
For children and young people to meaningfully engage and participate in speaking about and developing pragmatic solutions to preventing violence and for journalists and the media to be aware of how to report on violence against children both ethically and knowledgeable.
Attendees asked the panel questions and there was much to discuss but everyone who was present committed themselves to raise awareness of violence against children and also focus on more solutions going forward.
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