Pretoria - As South Africa kicks off the 2015 Child Protection Week, government has urged all South Africans to take a stand and do something about child abuse when they see it happening in their communities.
“Child abuse, neglect and exploitation continue in our country because citizens let it happen. Government cannot eliminate the scourge on its own….all of us must actively join the fight to end child abuse, neglect and exploitation,” the Department of Social Development said.
Child Protection Week aims to mobilise all sectors of society to care for and protect children. The campaign also intends to make adults and children aware of the statutory protection a child enjoys under the Constitution, legislations, policies and international instruments South Africa is signatory to.
The Child Protection Week campaign was initially scheduled for 25 May until 31 May 2015, but it was postponed following Cabinet’s pronouncement that the country will observe Africa Day on 24 May 2015.
Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, will officially launch Child Protection Week on 31 May 2015 at Shayamoya Sports Ground in Franklin, Kokstad. The campaign will run until 7 June 2015.
The launch of Child Protection Week will take place under the theme “Working Together to Protect Children”.
The department said it is high time citizens begin to investigate when they hear blood curdling screams from neighbour’s children and speak out against teachers who have inappropriate relations with pupils.
“Let us stop corporal punishment, let us report suspicions of child trafficking, let us stop people who are unsuitable to work with children from doing so, let us speak out against people who send children to buy alcohol…… let us protect our children!,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
