Make it a child
protection week every week
Child protection week has
been launched. Its set out journey began on the 27nth of May and ends on the
2nd of June. It is marked annually to raise awareness or rights of children. It
is also the protection of children from violence, exploitation, abuse and
neglect. Millions of children around the world are in danger of abuse, neglect,
exploitation and violence – at home, in school, in the community or during
unforeseen emergencies.
Despite our sophisticated
legal framework, South Africa is still marked by high levels of violence
against, and exploitation of, children. Recorded levels do not accurately
reflect the full extent of the problem because many cases go unreported.
Violence has long-lasting consequences for children, with strong evidence of a
link between childhood violence and adult mental health disorders and substance
abuse.
Child abuse does not only
affect the child but it also affects the well-being of the society as whole.
Children are pillars of our nation. These are the future doctors, educators,
presidents, engineers of the world and abusing them kills the future of the
South Africa.
"We need to create an
environment or a community where our children can grow in a safe space because
they need to be safe. We need to ensure that we protect and strengthen families
because that's where violence starts. When you hear the reports, the children
are violated by the people they know -people close to them." said Connie
Nxumalo.
This is the time that we
should not pay lip services but stand up and take an actice stand child abuse,
support civil society and government efforts to rid our society of this
scourge. Report child abuse to 0800055555
