children's rights
children's rights
Child Rights NGOs Challenge Laws on Sex
The Teddy Bear Clinic Laws and Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (RAPCAN) say laws that make consensual sex between teenagers a crime are unconstitutional.
The Teddy Bear Clinic director, Lizette Schoombie, points out that the case involving the highly publicised Jules High School case in which a 15-year old girl was raped on the school grounds, ‘emphatically demonstrated’ the negative effects of the act for children.
Schoombie says that while the Sexual Offences Act aims to protect children and adolescents from older sexual predators, the way the legislation was drafted has the opposite effect and breached children’s constitutional rights.
To read the article titled, “Child rights groups challenge laws on sex,” click here.Source:Business DayMachel Hails Zimbabwe’s Progress
Women and child rights activist and member of the Elders, Graça Machel, has praised progress in Zimbabwe since the formation of a compromise government to ease a political and economic crisis.
Speaking at a conference after a two-day mission as part of a United Nations children's fund (UNICEF) project, Machel pointed out that, "I have been impressed by the progress made in Zimbabwe."
"The level of commitment by the inclusive government to improve the wellbeing of children under difficult circumstances and with very limited resources is amazing and highly commendable,” she stated.
To read the article titled, “Graça says Zimbabwe 'progressing',” click here.Source:News24Removal of Children from Beggars
Press Release
25 August 2010
The advent of the removal of children begging in the streets in Tshwane, some accompanying adults has the public raging with dissent. Jo’burg Child Welfare (JCW) has the following comments on this issue:
“We note that such children are exposed to a great many hazards and that there is an urgent need for intervention to improve their circumstances. In addition there is evidence that some of the adults concerned are not the parents of the children who are with them, but have “rented” them for use in begging. This is of course a highly dangerous practice that must be ended”, says the organisation’s Assistant Director Carol Bews.
At the same time it is our impression that many of the adults in question are the parents of the children who are with them, and their begging is a means of survival in extremely adverse circumstances.
Sudden, forced removal of children from those caring for them is highly traumatising and can cause severe and lasting emotional problems. This is something that should happen only when there is substantial immediate danger to a child - danger which outweighs that involved in traumatic removal.
Marihet Infantino, JCW’s manager for the Child and Family unit says; “Normally speaking, separation of a child from his or her parent or primary caregiver should happen only after a full investigation and with thorough preparation of all concerned.”
We would recommend that instead of this kind of draconian action by the authorities, what is required is to increase the options for poor people. “We need strong outreach and development programmes through which the adults involved can be offered positive ways of making a living, instead of being separated from their children,” adds Bews.
Such programmes require funding from provincial and local government as well as private sources. The present chronic underfunding of welfare organisations by the Gauteng government is undermining their ability to respond to this and many other social problems.
Our own organisation’s Thembalethu project for girls and young women on the street has to date this year received no state funding. This is a programme which, through skills training and income-generating activities, helps prevent young mothers from having to resort to begging in the first place. “Government must strengthen the social welfare service net in order to promote the wellbeing of children and families in our province,” appeals Bews.
Issue By: Jo’burg Child Welfare
Contact:
- Carol Bews tel: 011 298 8500
- Marihet Infantino 011 298 8511
For more information, click here.Date published:25/08/2010Organisation:Jo’burg Child WelfareThe South African Child Gauge
‘The South African Child Gauge’ is the only publication in the country that provides an annual snap-shot of the status of South Africa’s children. Published by the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town, this publication tracks South Africa’s progress towards realising children’s rights. The latest issue focuses on the theme ‘Healthy children: From survival to optimal development‘.
For more information, click here.
Wits Journalism: Reporting on Children
Wits Journalism is a new programme for aspirant and working journalists. Located in Johannesburg – at the heart of the country's media – it is well placed to work closely with the industry and working professionals to ensure a rich and exciting centre of teaching, training, research and public engagement.
Wits Journalism is conducting a five-day course on Reporting on Children from 2-6 August 2010 in Johannesburg.
The course, run in conjunction with the Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), is for journalists concerned about the relationship between the media and children, both as subjects and consumers of the media. The course aims to challenge the common representation of children and their issues in and by the media, as well as open up new possibilities for alternative representations. It will allow you to develop practical strategies in the development of a human rights centred approach to reporting on children and will allow you to integrate the learning and experience of other journalists and experts into the way in which journalists report on children stories.
Registration: Taryn Hinton, email: tarun@hintonlee.co.za, mobile: 082 940 6188
To apply, please contact Judy at journinfo@wits.ac.za or call 011 717 4028.
Closing date for applications: 9 July 2010
For more information on Wits Journalism, click hereEvent type:TrainingEvent venue:JohannesburgEvent start date:02/08/2010Event end date:06/08/2010Abandoned Children on the Increase in SA
More than 2 000 children are abandoned annually in South Africa because of AIDS, poverty, drug abuse and teenage pregnancies, according to Child Welfare South Africa (CWSA).
The organisation has also revealed that mothers, particularly economic migrants and asylum seekers from neighbouring countries, are abandoning their children in big numbers at hospitals after birth.
Acting Gauteng coordinator of CWSA, Megan Briede, has been quoted as saying that between 2000 and 2300 cases of child abandonment and neglect have been recorded over the last three years, an increase of between eight percent and 10 percent year on year.
To read the article titled, “More than 2 000 kids abandoned annually,” click here.
Source:Sunday TimesWorld Cup Job Prospects Attract Children – RCP
The Refugee Children’s Project (RCP) in Musina says the staging of the FIFA World Cup has resulted in an increase in the number of unaccompanied minors who travel to South Africa.
RCP’s Bertha Chiguvera, says the organisation noted a ‘slight increase’ in the number of children who travel alone to South Africa in search of job opportunities associated with the World Cup.
Chiguvera says the RCP’s staff has encountered about 100 unaccompanied minors since the start of the World Cup on 11 June, adding that the organisation usually saw about 10 minors a day, though the numbers varied every day.
To read the article titled, “Cup job prospects attract children,” click here .Source:SowetanArticle link:UNICEF Urges Senegal to Protect Children
The United Nations children's agency (UNICEF) has urged Senegal to better enforce its laws protecting children from abuse and exploitation, citing a case of two boys abused by their Koranic master.
In a press statement, UNICEF points out that, "On Friday 28 May newspapers reported the case of two boys aged 8 and 9 years old who were abused by their Qu'ranic master and who bore traces of injuries due to beatings."
It says the public should be moved by ‘abuse of children which has crossed the threshold of being tolerable’ and called on the government to revisit its laws and do everything necessary to implement them.
To read the article titled, “UN: Senegal must protect children,” click here .Source:News24NGO Blames Lack of Quality Healthcare Services
Accessing health services for children with special needs in poor communities is ‘extremely difficult’, according to Masigcine Children's Centre’s Juliane Petersen.
Her view is reiterated by the ‘Health of our Children in South Africa’ study released in mid-May by national research institute, Human Sciences Research Council. The study points out that the shortfall in the country’s public health system has a negative impact on a large number of South Africa’s children.
The study found that three million girls and boys up to the age of 18 years are orphaned, adding that the number of orphans has risen by 4.9 percent since 2005.
To read the article titled, “Lack of quality healthcare causes rise in orphans,” click here.Source:Mail and GuardianSWC Could Increase Child Labour – UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says the FIFA World Cup could see an increase in child labour linked to the ‘economic bonanza’ that will accompany it.
UNICEF child labour specialist, Aida Girma, points out that, “There is little experience in organising major international sporting events in settings where the number of poor and vulnerable children is so high.”
Girma states that, “Criminal syndicates may thrive during such events and target children in order to fulfil the perceived increase in demand for prostitution and drugs which the event is expected to bring.”
To read the article titled, “UNICEF: World Cup could increase child labour,” click here.
Source:Sunday Times
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