Children require a great deal of assistance and guidance in everyday life, much more so than adults do. From the time they are born, children need help with almost everything they do, from basic tasks such as having a bath and getting dressed, to learning how to treat other people. This means that children are much more vulnerable than adults and therefore require protection from the many dangers that threaten their well-being.
Since 1998 the South African government has commemorated Child Protection Week every year under the direction of the Department of Social Development. This is done to create an awareness amongst South African communities about the shared role we each must play in safeguarding the children of our nation.
In order to reaffirm government's position in creating a sense of communal responsibility in protecting our children, a five-year-long national theme of "Working together to protect children" was kicked off in 2013 for Child Protection Week.
What are the threats that face South African children?
A vast number of issues threatening the well-being of children today. Below is a list of just some of these issues:
While many people are aware of these issues they do not understand just how great an impact they have on our children and our society as a whole. For example, more than 10 children die every day from injuries and many more are severely injured and even permanently disabled in accidents - that is more than 3 560 children a year who die in situations that could possibly have been prevented. According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), South Africa sees approximately 57 000 deaths annually in children under the age of five due to a variety of causes.
The number of South African children suffering from child abuse is much higher - in the millions - while the most recent study conducted by UNICEF indicated that there are an estimated 3 400 000 orphans in the country.
What is being done to help protect our children?
In the South African Bill of Rights there is a section dedicated to the rights of children, which stipulates that children have the right to a name, citizenship, and some form of care as well as food and shelter. It also states that children have a right to be protected from abuse, neglect and shame. The section makes it illegal for children to work when under-age or to partake in any work that interferes with their education and/or development. It also makes illegal the participation of children in war and states that they should be protected from conflict. Notably, the section says that the interests of a child are the most important consideration when it comes to any matter concerning the child.
UNICEF also has a legally binding, formal document regarding the rights of children called the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which identifies the basic rights of children including the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life.
In addition to this a number of different organisations operate within South Africa with the aim of offering children the protection they need from the many dangers that pose a threat to their well-being.
And yet, despite all this our children are still suffering from an abuse of their rights in almost every way. That is why it is so important that we share the load of protecting our children from harm by actively participating in making our communities a safer place for children to live.
How can I help to protect children?
If you have children visiting or living in your home, that is the first place to start. The below list of tips will help you to ensure a safe environment for children in your home:
Ensure that all electrical wiring and appliances are safe and that all plug sockets are properly covered.
Fence off any bodies of water on your property such as swimming pools and fish ponds, and keep children away from these areas unless accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
Keep baths and buckets of water empty or out of reach of children unless being used under strict adult supervision.
Never leave fires or hot liquids unattended, no matter for how short a period of time.
Keep all sharp objects out of reach.
Keep all substances such as chemical solvents, paints, insecticides, alcohol, medicines, cosmetic products and even vitamins out of reach.
Install safety-glass on large glass doors or large, low windows and use stickers to ensure that the glass can be clearly seen.
Have a list of emergency numbers at hand next to each telephone or saved into each cell phone in the house.
You can also help to protect children in the wider community by doing the following:
If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can phone the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and well-being.
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