CHILD PROTECTION WEEK. Campaign Toolkit

Transcription

1 P a g e 1 1. INTRODUCTION CHILD PROTECTION WEEK 27 May to 3 June 2012 Campaign Toolkit Ending the abuse, neglect and exploitation of Children in our country is everyone s responsibility. This toolkit will give you some ideas on getting involved in the Child Protection Week Campaign. You can play an active role in creating a safe and secure environment for our children. 2. CAMPAIGN CONCEPT Annually Government, civil society and the private sector lead a massive public campaign to raise awareness on the rights of children as articulated in the Children s Act of 2005 [Act no 38]. The campaign, known as Child Protection Week is commemorated annually on the last week of May. The Constitution, legislation, policies, and international instruments are in place to provide statutory protection towards providing a better life for children. Further, the Children s Act of 2005, Act 38 of 2005, sets out the principles relating to the care and protection of children, and defines the related parental responsibilities and rights. The Act includes, amongst others, principles on: Parental responsibilities and rights Children and courts Children in need of care and protection Adoption Protecting children from abduction and child trafficking.

2 P a g e 2 A multi-sector response is required to address and end the scourge of child abuse, neglect and exploitation. The well-being of children depends on YOUR support! 3. WHO S INVOLVED The Department of Social Development has been mandated by The Presidency to coordinate the Child Protection Week in collaboration with partner departments i.e. Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Health, Justice and Constitutional Development, Basic Education, South African Police Service, Labour, Health, Home Affairs and Government Communications (GCIS); as well as civil society and corporate partners. The Department of Social Development coordinates all the Child Protection Week activities of government departments, civil society and corporate partners. The aim is to grow the campaign s reach year-on-year with the support and commitment of our friends in all sectors, especially to reach the rural areas and those affected by incidence of child abuse, neglect and exploitation. Parents, caregivers, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, domestic workers, academics, celebrities, faith-based organisations, public servants, police, traditional leaders and political leaders, etc. all have important roles to play in protecting children from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. The efforts will inform citizens of the prevention and early intervention programmes of supporting departments and agencies. 4. GREEN RIBBON (logo, strapline and symbolism) EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO WEAR A GREEN RIBBON DURING CHILD PROTECTION WEEK. The Green Ribbon demonstrates your commitment and support to protecting the rights of children. The Green Ribbon can also be displayed and promoted on publications, advertisements, websites, s, billboards, posters and products, exhibitions, etc. to demonstrate a company/organization s commitment to creating a safe and secure environment for our children. There is a strapline on the Green Ribbon with the inscription Protect a Child. The Green Ribbon was adopted by the National Child Protection Committee in Green symbolizes life and growth associated with children. Children need to be nurtured and conserved. All government departments, provinces, metros, parastatals, agencies, the private sector, non-profit organisations, the media and communities are urged to support Child Protection Week by encouraging their employees, stakeholders and the public to wear and display the green ribbon. Let s speak with one voice against child violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

3 P a g e 3 5. THEME AND MESSAGES The campaign theme is: Working Together to Protect Children, which is a five-year theme (2011 to 2015) and was adopted on 28 October 2010 by the National Child Care and Protection Forum. The theme upholds government s commitment to child protection, in partnership with civil society and is supported by the following submessages: Wear the Green Ribbon to show your support to protecting the rights of our Children. Government is steadfast in protecting Children s Rights. Let us strengthen our collective efforts against child abuse, neglect and exploitation. It takes a village to raise a child 6. GETTING INVOLVED I. Wear the Green Ribbon and show support to protecting the rights of our Children. II. Be an active participant and partner in the promotion of the rights, care and protection of the child. III. Get to know and understand the Children s Act, and participate in the activities and dialogues of Child Protection Week. IV. Volunteers you are urged to use your expertise and services in households, communities and professional environments. V. Educate children on the Children s Act. Encourage them to know and understand their rights. VI. Put an banner as signature (see page 4) on all your s to demonstrate your commitment to child protection. VII. Publish the campaign logo as your Facebook photo as part of your commitment to child protection. VIII. All parents, guardians and older members of the community please look out for one another s children. IX. Report Child Abuse on Childline s toll free RESOURCES Websites: [government website) ear=2009&month=5&day=26&itemid=33 [Department of Social Development] [Constitutional Court of South Africa Children s Rights] [Child online Protection]

4 P a g e 4 The following products are available on the campaign webpage: Logo and strapline Mobilisation poster in all languages banner South Africa s support to the international community in protecting our children: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1990) The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (2000), International Labour Organisation s Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Worst Forms of Child Labour (No. 182 of 1999); and The Hague Convention of the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, (Act No. 72 of 1996). National legislation that supports the protection of children: Social Assistance Act (Act No.59 of 1992), as amended National Health Act (Act No. 61 of 2003), South African Schools Act (Act No. 84 of 1996), Basic Conditions of Employment Act (Act No. 75 of 1997) child labour, Child Justice Act (Act No. 75 of 2008) Children s access to court, Sexual Offences and Related Matters Amendment Act (Act No. 32 of 2007), Birth Registration and Death Registration Act (Act No. 43 of 1998), Refugees Act, (Act No. 130 of 1998), Correctional Service Act, (Act No. 8 of 1959) and the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse Act (Act No. 70 of 2008). South Africa s remarkable achievements: South Africa is doing well to reduce infant and under-five child morbidity and mortality million Children received the child support grant through the South African Social Security Agency. The Foster Child Grant has increased from in March 2008 to in March Immunisation coverage has increased from 63% in 1998 to 89.6% in 2010 with the highest coverage of 95.5% achieved in South Africa saw a landmark achievement of 50 percept reduction in the transmission of HIV from mothers to children between 2008 and The proportion of children whose mothers are HIV positive who were infected decreased from 8% in 2008 to 3.5% in We have more than doubled Grade R enrolment from to between 2003 and 2011 and are set to meet the target of 100% Grade R enrolment by Making education legally compulsory for children between the ages of 7 to 15 years (or up to Grade 9, whichever comes first) is evidently yielding results. 99%

5 P a g e 5 of 7 to 15 year olds and 83% of 16 to 18 year children are attending educational institutions. There are 12 million learners enrolled with a total number of educators employed in public schools. More than children are exposed to an educational environment that has a potential to shape their social, cognitive and emotional skills. Government subsidises over of the total of registered Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in the country. 8. OUR REQUEST TO YOU Please circulate and distribute this toolkit to your clients, customers, communities and colleagues. 9. CONTACTS Name: Marlene Primo and Nkatane Matsomane Department of Social Development Telephone: (012) and (012) [email protected] and [email protected]