Children need families and communities who have courage to take steps to protect them and address all forms of violations of their rights. We also need to familiarise ourselves with Children’s rights covered in Chapter 2, Section 28 (1 d & e) of the Constitution of South Africa of 1996 which states that every child has the right to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation. But do we need the constitution to tell us, as adults, that we must protect our children? Do we need the constitution before we can see that a child is in pain? Why are we not protecting our children? Why are governments not prioritizing the needs of children and youth? Is our conviction rate of cases pertaining to child abuse satisfactory?
SONGEZO MABECE was in conversation with Ms Neliswa Cekiso - Head of Child Protection at the Department of Social Development AND Ms Sipelile Kaseke – Head of Programme Development at the SOS Children’s Village