Child Protection Week over but abuse continues

Child Protection Week, which was commemorated last week, is an attempt to enlighten the public on the importance of child safety.

With the week of observation expected again next year, the question to ask is whether or not the occasion had any impact on the public.

The commemoration, which coincided with the second school term break, saw Alex police and non-profit organisation Victim Support Unit conduct a roadshow at Pholosho Primary School to highlight children’s safety issues and advise them on how to improve their safety.

The concern is a daily preoccupation for most community stakeholders, with Alexandra Police Station Commander Colonel Nhluvuko Zondi recently identifying child abuse and rape as priority crimes; the Department of Basic Education revealing a concern about thousands of schoolgirls falling pregnant every year; the Alexandra Clinic expressing worry about the high teenage pregnancy rate and illegal back street abortions which put girls’ lives at risk; and non-profit organisations Lifeline and the South African National Council for Alcoholism raising an alarm about the increase in drug addiction which causes children to drop out of school.

Elizabeth Mokoena of the Victim Support Unit, said the roadshow was aimed at encouraging residents to be extra vigilant when children are left at home alone, making them vulnerable to sex pests and house robbers.

“The onus is on everyone to know that children’s safety is their responsibility and it is their obligation to promote children’s rights,” she said.

The following are important children’s rights promoted by the unit:

• The right to parental and family care
• The right to have the best healthcare possible
• The right to an education
• The right to speak out and be heard
• The right to be protected from all kinds of physical and mental abuse, violence and injury
• The right to play and not do adult work
• The right to be protected against all forms of sexual abuse.

Sexual abuse is when a child under the age of 18 is forced or coerced into having sex, to touch someone or be touched inappropriately or when a child is shown pornographic material. Physical abuse is hitting, burning, strangling or hurting a child in any way. Emotional abuse is yelling, threatening and degrading a child; while abuse is neglecting, not cleaning or clothing a child, as well as not feeding or caring for a child.

The centre advises abused children to report any abuse to someone they trust, the police, a clinic, social workers or the centre. Here they will receive free support, therapy, medical examination and treatment.

Details: Victim Support Unit 011 321 7614/5.