The South African Constitution’s Bill of Rights provides children the right to care and protection, yet thousands of children experience abuse on a daily basis.
The Gender and Health Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council completed a national study on child homicides in 2009, which it revealed some shocking findings on the magnitude of child homicide and deaths related to abuse and neglect.
In order to ensure the protection of children and their rights, the country will be commemorating Child Protection Week from May 31 to June 7. The week is aimed at raising awareness of the rights of the children.
“As parents, workers, teachers, churches, civil society and ordinary members of respective communities, this is a wake up call to uphold and live by our constitution, protecting our children from all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse,” said Busi Kheswa, from Gauteng Community Safety.
The community is urged to get involved in protecting all children and not just their own by making child protection an everyday phenomenon.
