Children throughout South Africa face numerous challenges, which impact on their very survival. National Child Protection Week is celebrated annually from 25 May to 2 June, to create awareness in communities about the consequences of child abuse. The eThekwini Health Unit in partnership with the Jamaitul Ulema organisation will be launching Child Protection Week in Ottawa Clinic in Verulam, on Tuesday 26 May 2009 from 9h00 to 12h00. The event will highlight the importance of promoting a culture of respect for children's rights thus ensuring that all children grow up in a safe and healthy environment that is free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
According to Thoko Xulu, Manager in eThekwini's Social Development Unit, as a caring City we want to ensure that we are inline with Children's Act which speaks about children's rights. This year's theme is Caring Communities Protect Children and it is in line with the five year theme which has been adopted by the National Child Protection Week Committee. Government has put in place various pieces of legislation to protect children. South Africa ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the world's leading instrument on the rights of children and young people. By signing up the Convention, the South African government committed itself to protect and promote children's rights. The passing of the Sexual Offences Act by Parliament has created an enabling environment for protection of children and prosecution of offenders in South Africa.
