- Local children’s rights organisation says more should be done to promote children’s rights.
- The organisation adds that too many children do not enjoy the freedom of their rights.
- The Western Cape commissioner for children adds that more needs to be done to ensure the realisation of children’s rights.
Children’s rights organisation Molo Songololo says more should be done to promote children’s rights.
Patric Solomon, managing director of the organisation, says while children in South Africa live in a society with a constitution that has the highest regard for their rights and the equality and dignity of everyone, these rights are not always implemented.
While the curtain came to a close on Child Protection Week and with Youth Day commemorated over the weekend Solomon feels that too many children do not enjoy the freedom of their rights.
“The Western Cape is one of the most unequal provinces in South Africa. We have a large group of children and families that are poor. And the gap between the rich and the poor is big. Children live in communities that threaten their safety.”
According to the 2022-2023 Western Cape Commissioner for Children annual report, it was estimated in 2021 that 85 900 children in the Western Cape (39,9%) live in income-poor households.
Solomon says as an organisation they do awareness campaigns in various communities to educate children about their rights.
“We also tell them about their responsibility because with each right comes responsibility. We work with primary and high school learners. We also see how children who know and understand their rights are better able to protect the rights of others and their own.”
He says too often neglect and abuse are normalised, and children are not aware that their rights are being violated.
Solomon explains that in their child protection and victim empowerment programme, they also work with parents.
“Often parents know something is not right, but they don’t report it. They don’t understand that if they for example have a 13-year-old girl, and she has sexual relations with a 17-year-old boy, that could be an illegal relationship.
“Some parents allow relationships between a 15-year-old girl and a 21-year-old boyfriend, but it could be against the law. We try and create awareness of what is appropriate and what is illegal. We also provide them with the knowledge in terms of what they can do about these violations.”
Address violations
“Acknowledge what is happening. When it comes to sexual violations teenagers are often treated like adults and expected to take on adult roles. We need to understand that even if a child behaves like an adult, that is no excuse for abuse or exploitation. We need to know who is responsible and who must be held accountable,” he explained.
Undocumented children
According to Solomon, too many children do not have important documentation.
“In some of the areas that we work, we find that some children don’t have birth certificates or ID’s. Home Affairs needs to roll out mobile units to go to these communities. We do have some dysfunctional parents but not all of them are. Some of them just cannot afford public transport to get to Home Affairs offices.”
The way forward
Solomon believes that children should play a role in developing policies and in decision-making that affects them. Their education needs to be given priority, so education infrastructure in poor communities must be improved.
Christina Nomdo, Western Cape commissioner for children, says that more needs to be done to ensure the realisation of children’s rights. This requires a partnership between society, community-based organisations, and the government.
“In the community child rights workshops, the children tell the Commissioner that they do not feel safe in their communities, that they face discrimination at school and in healthcare facilities, and that there is a lack of or no recreational facilities in their communities. Some do not have access to education and social assistance.”
