Child Welfare SA challenges South Africans to advocate for a ‘children’s rights’ focused culture.
The recognition of National Children’s Day, which is celebrated every first Saturday in November, is aimed at not only celebrating our children but also highlighting the progress being made towards the realisation and promotion of the rights of children in South Africa.
Child Welfare South African (CWSA), the largest and oldest child protection non-profit, non-governmental public benefit organisation in the country, believes that more needs to be done to assist the government departments concerned and working with the protection of children in the country to fight the scourge of exploitation, abuse and violence against children.
“Despite all the excellent work being done by many in South Africa to protect children, the impact is not as effective as it should be as we continue to work in silos. The time is now to join hands as a South African coalition for children’s rights so that all across the spectrum of media, government, academia, business, civil society, NGO’s and others can make a difference in the lives of our children.
“It is for this reason we have embarked on a project to establish the South African 4Our Children Coalition to bring together all stakeholders in the fields of child protection in South Africa and across Africa to work as a team in making the difference needed to stop the violence against our children.” says PJ Cloete, National Executive Director at Child Welfare SA.
“Our children have told us they are tired of pouring their hearts out at talk shops to no avail. No more ‘talk the talk’ now is the time to walk the talk”, comments Cloete
Cloete adds that together with the children by their side, all involved in protecting children should speak with one voice in putting a stop to any and all forms of violence against children by advocating for the protection and the rights of children in the country.
Nationally, CWSA has conceptualised the R U 1 Campaign, with the objective of including and encouraging South Africans to commit in helping raise funds to secure the financial sustainability of the organisation and its member organisations, and allow the expansion of its advocacy and programs across the country.
Cloete explains, “The reason that these funds are so crucial is to enable the organisation to provide trained social and social auxiliary workers with the functional and financial infrastructure to advocate for the creation of a developmental based ‘children’s rights-focused culture’ in South Africa”.
This initiative will allow CWSA to continue and expand the child protection initiatives and programs run by CWSA and its 164 member organisations based in all nine provinces around the country.
CWSA, in partnership with the Department of Education, hopes to see their Boy Child and Girl Child programs included from Early Childhood Development all the way to grade 12 in schools across the country. The program aims to educate and put an emphasis on children’s rights and responsibilities.
CWSA’s partnership with the Department of Social Development has seen the establishment of the Isolabantwana (Eye on The Child) program, which urges communities across the country to become vigilant and aware of the need to protect the children within the communities.
For more information on CWSA programs, and to become a partner in the R U 1 campaign, contact the media department on 011 590 7142 or e-mail media@childwelfaresa.org.za .
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