NATIONAL Child Protection Week (CPW) is commemorated in South Africa annually to raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in the Children’s Act of 2005 and will be observed from 1 to 8 June.
The campaign is led by the Minister of Social Development; however, it is incumbent on all of us to play a role in protecting children and creating a safe and secure environment for them.
Children in South Africa live in a society with a constitution that has the highest regard for their rights and for the equality and dignity of everyone.
Protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse is not only a basic value, but also an obligation clearly set out in Article 28 of the South African Constitution.
The aim of child protection is to ensure the safety, well-being, care and protection of children through an integrated multi-disciplinary approach.
Despite the best efforts of the South African Government and civil society to protect children from child abuse, neglect and exploitation, many children still remain vulnerable.
Reducing the high levels of violence against children is among South Africa’s most overwhelming tasks.
Despite the country’s progressive child protection laws, policies and programmes preventing and addressing violence against children, it remains a major challenge.
Government urges everyone to wear the Green Ribbon during Child Protection Week to show support for promotion of the rights, care and protection of the child.
Children’s rights
•I have the right to a loving and caring family, a proper safe and comfortable home, clothing and healthy food
•I have the right to be told the house rules of where I live
•I have the right to an education suitable to my aptitudes and abilities
•I have the right to a say in my care, and any changes to how I am cared for, according to my age and maturity
•I have the right to get special care for special needs
•I have the right to be protected from hurt
•I have the right to good health care if I am sick and to be kept away from cigarettes, alcohol and drugs
•I am a real person and have a right to be treated properly
•I have the right to be taken seriously and to make mistakes
•I have the right to my own religion and culture
•I have a right to my name and my nationality
•I have the right to be treated the same, no matter what my colour, race, gender, language or religion is
•I have the right to be proud of my heritage and beliefs
•I have the right to speak and be heard
•I have the right to send and receive private mail that is not read or opened by others
•I have the right to privacy
•I have the right to own my own things
•I have the right to speak and visit in private with my family or any other person like my big friend, a person representing me like my social worker or my lawyer
•I have a right to a lawyer in courtrooms and hearings affecting my future
•I have a right to live in a nice place and not be put in prison or in a police cell
•I have the right to know what my rights are
