The Western Cape's Social Development Department has heeded the call that all children should be protected. This comes after May is Child Protection Month, a month where one raises awareness about the rights of children as enshrined in the Constitution and Children's Act (Act No. 38 of 2005).
South Africa has a high rate of child murders and
kidnappings. According to Missing Children SA, a child goes missing every five
hours in the country.
MEC, Sharna Fernandez says her department will use this
month to raise awareness about child abuse and the preventive measures the
provincial DSD offer.
“We believe that all children have the right to be
protected in their environments by their care givers but when children are
vulnerable, abused, neglected, and exploited they are considered to be in need
of care and protection.’’
“Although the Department offers a range of services to
assist families and ensure the protection of children, it is important to note
the primary responsibility for child protection lies with the parents and
caregivers. And where there are those who have the resources and temperament to
care for children in need of a temporary home, I encourage you to consider
becoming a foster or safety parent,” added Sharna Fernandez, Western Cape's
Social Development MEC.
Fernandez says in order to prevent child abuse, one must
focus on early prevention and intervention programmes.
"It is therefore important that children and families
are supported early with intervention programmes and resources. The WCDSD’s
services aim to transition vulnerable children from risk to resilience by using
evidence-based interventions that mobilize and develop protective resources
within their families, communities, and schools. This will allow children to
grow into productive, aspirational, healthy, and independent individuals."
These services include:
• Family preservation services that consist of family counselling, parenting and fatherhood programmes, couple and marriage counselling and family therapy. The prevention programmes can help parents identify and address other needs they may have, such as managing ui anger and learning problem-solving techniques, ways to manage money and reduce stress, etc.
• Prevention and early intervention services: We offer child abuse prevention programmes, therapeutic counselling and developmental services.
• HIV care services, and Drop-in Centres where social workers and Child & Youth Care Workers provide basic services to vulnerable children to enhance their emotional, physical, and social development.
• Risiha
programme: a community-based child protection programme aimed at protecting
orphans and vulnerable children some of whom are living in child and youth
headed households, with chronic health conditions as well as those living and
working on the streets.
The MEC said children with disabilities should not be
forgotten during this time, as they have the same rights as other children.
"The Department subsidizes Special Care Centres for
Children with Disabilities and spends R30 million on funding four Child and
Youth Care Centres for children with profound disabilities in alternative care.
"
"The Department also manages the Sivuyile Residential
Facility, which accommodates children and adults with severe and profound,
physical, and intellectual disabilities," added Sharna Fernandez, Western
Cape's Social Development MEC.
The month of May leads to National Child Protection Week, usually commemorated in the last week of May, which in 2023, runs from 29 May to 5 June, and International Missing Children's Day on 25 May.
"Government calls on all South Africans to support
Child Protection Week by ensuring that the most vulnerable in our society do
not suffer abuse. It is in our hands to stop the cycle of neglect, abuse,
violence and exploitation of children," said SA Government in a statement.
Done By: Mitchum George
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