Minister's Statement on the Launch of Child Protection Week

Dear Children,

I would like to begin by reiterating the main message conveyed by President Thabo Mbeki during his State of the Nation last week when he detailed government's programme of work for this year. Government has already settled down to work and we have a sharp and clear focus because of the mandate given to us by our people.

Child Protection Week (CPW) is an opportunity for us to rededicate ourselves to ensuring that children are fully able to exercise their constitutional rights and enjoy the full dignity of freedom. As government we are working to ensure that the socio-economic rights of children as enshrined in our constitution, including the right to education, health, care and support become a reality as a matter of top priority.

In concrete terms, our major priority this year is to register all eligible children under 11 years of age for the Child Support Grant. This will be extended to all children under 14 years of age next year.

Another key priority is to ensure that comprehensive Child Care Legislation,which our people have been awaiting for too long, is passed by parliament as soon as possible. This legislation will lay a basis to deal more effectively, in a progressive manner, with the socio- economic challenges facing children in our country.

The national Department and its provincial counterparts will also be implementing measures to prevent and combat the abuse, neglect, exploitation, and trafficking of children. Special attention will be given to children with special needs. These measures will include reducing the number of children awaiting trial in police cells and prisons through expanded diversion programmes; establishing more secure care facilities; appropriate placement of children through the assessments conducted by probation officers; appropriate sentencing options; and continuous monitoring of children in prisons. The Department will also be finalising a policy framework and a strategic plan on the management of child abuse, neglect and exploitation.

As indicated in the State of the Nation address, government will be mobilising more community resources for Early Childhood Development activities through the Expanded Public Works Programme. This is an opportunity to conduct a thorough review of the status of children below six years of age in our country - especially those children living in disadvantaged families in rural areas. It is also an opportunity to examine the feasibility of expanding the child nutrition programme from primary schools to pre-schools and crèches.

As you are all aware, Child Protection Week is an annual campaign that starts from the 24th May and culminates on the 1st June, which is the United Nations' International Day of the Child. Given that the issue of child abuse and the protection of children from all forms of vulnerability are a vital societal concern, some of the provinces have taken the initiative to make Child Protection Week a month-long campaign. This is laudable and must be encouraged and supported.

Now more than ever before, the issue of Child Protection from all forms of vulnerability, must not only be Everybody's Business but also an Everyday Business. Abuse, neglect, poverty, HIV and AIDS, conflict with the law and all the social challenges facing children should be the topic of on-going discussion of all families and communities from all walks of like. This is especially so during the Child Protection Week.

In order for child protection to be an "every day business" we should all be clear about the objectives of the campaign.

These are:

• To highlight the plight of all children especially those who are abused and neglected; children who are affected and/or infected with HIV and AIDS; children living in poverty; children with disabilities; and those in conflict with law;
• To enhance the access of children to the various government services;
• The registration of all eligible children for social grants;
• To enhance partnerships with various stakeholders and communities in order to build a better life for children;
• To strengthen families and enhance the values of love, care, and support for children, especially as this is the International Year of the Family and we are celebrating Ten Years of Freedom;
• And last but definitely not least, to strengthen the moral regeneration movement.

These objectives and challenges have to be seen in the context of the massive progress we have made during our first Decade of Democracy. Indicators of this progress include the following facts:

• From a mere 60 000 children registered for the CSG in 1999, we now have over 4 million children receiving the CSG;
• Awareness about the rights of children has increased significantly;
• Over 1 million children, especially those living in child-headed households have been provided with nutritious food since the introduction of the Food Emergency Scheme in 2002;
• Shelters for children have been built and more are scheduled to be built;
• Home and community based care support services are more readily accessible to children;
• Children's Courts, which are aimed at dealing more effectively and in a child- friendly manner with the crimes perpetrated against children,have and will continue to be built;
• Victim empowerment programmes are being gradually strengthened across government programmes;
• Bail conditions and tougher sentencing have been introduced against those who abuse children;
• Partnerships with civil society structures working with children are being built and consolidated;
• And, millions of children now have access to free education.

As I stated at the onset, government has already settled down to work and we have a sharp and clear focus of the work ahead. As has already been announced, we are in the process of establishing a National Social Security Agency. Our objectives are to ensure the specialized provision of social security; the effective and efficient management of the social grants by the national department; and a drastic reduction of fraud and corruption in grant administration. These actions should free resources to tackle the huge socio-economic challenges facing our children.

Even more importantly, the establishment of National Social Security Agency will give the Department more time to focus on the welfare of children,older persons and other vulnerable groups. It will also allow the department to focus on the building of the capacity and on the better financing NGO's. Child welfare organizations and other Community Based Organizations that provide critical services to children and the vulnerable will be among the main beneficiaries.

Ladies and Gentlemen, as the nation joins hands to mark Child Protection Week, it must be noted that the challenge of making Child Protection Everybody's Business will require all of us to work closely together and build a people's contract to strengthen families; and restore values of love, care and support for all the children.

As individuals and families we cannot not go to bed with a clear conscience, knowing that the child next door goes to sleep without a meal. We cannot go to bed with a clear conscience knowing that the child next door goes to school with ragged clothes and no school uniform; or knowing that the child next door is an orphan with no one in the community to take care of her and her siblings. Similarly, we cannot and will not stand idle while the child next door is abused and raped.

As we embark on Child Protection Week and in the year ahead, lets all put children first in all we do. Let us all work in close partnership and live by the saying: Umntwana Wakho Ngumntwana Wam-Umntwana Wam Ngumntwana Wakho/Your Child is My Child, My Child is Your Child".

Thank You

Issued by Ministry of Social Development

For More Information Contact:
Mbulelo Musi
Tel: 012 312 7654
Cell: 082775 2823
Fax: 012 312 7943
E-mail: Mbulelo Musi