Children everywhere are vulnerable because they are constantly at risk of predators preying on them, with those who are unlucky often falling victim to various abuses.
Child Protection Week is from 2 to 9 June, and is being marked by the police, together with other agencies who have embarked on a mission to educate children on their rights, on how to be safe, and most importantly, on how to ward off predators.
Sergeant Carmen Hendricks, the Randfontein Police spokesperson, said Child Protection Week aims to stop child abuse, harm, and neglect, and to prevent children going missing.
Hendricks said in their outreach programmes children are taught not to have any interaction with strangers and that they should always tell their parents where they are going.
“They should also not walk alone, but in groups with friends. We educate them on where they should go for help, and in the one of the programmes, we educate children about where they should not be touched.
“We also tell them that they should not accept any sweets from strangers because that is how most children are lured and eventually abducted,” Hendricks said.
Hendricks said although it is important for children to heed this message, it is also important for parents to make sure they play their part in the safety of their children.
Hendricks said in accordance with the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, parents have the responsibility of knowing where their children are, and what they are doing.
“They must always ensure that their children are under the supervision of a trustworthy person, and immediately report to the police if their children go missing. They must also teach their children their home address and their caregiver’s name and contact details,” she said.
Hendricks also said the Act prohibits the grooming of children for sexual purposes, and that it is a criminal offence to force a child to perform hazardous, exploitative work that is inappropriate for a person under the age of 18 years.
Sarah Sechele, deputy secretary for the Youth Crime Prevention Unit, said children are sometimes placed at risk by their negligent parents. “In some cases, you find that young mothers go out to shebeens to drink with their children on their backs.
These mothers are generally still children themselves and often deprive their children of food, do not care for them properly, and violate their rights. Court intervention is often needed, and the children are generally placed in other places where they are better cared for.
