SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa commemorates World Children’s Day (20 November).
World Children’s Day is celebrated annually on 20 November. It marks the anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). It is a key opportunity to celebrate children as rights holders and call on governments to renew their commitments to children’s rights. November 20th 2009 was also the date when the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution welcoming the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.
Two years ago, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Resolution on the Rights of the Child focusing for the first time ever on children without parental care.
Child protection is critical, and more than ever during lockdown as a result of the COVID pandemic. This pandemic has brought many challenges in terms of child protection and child rights violations. SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa urge authorities to recognise that the pandemic is deeply affecting the environment in which children grow and develop, from early childhood to adolescence.
This pandemic affects the health, well-being and future of all children across the globe. It is vital that governments design their responses in a way that protects children’s rights to survival and development, their physical and mental health, nutrition, protection, education, well-being and care, as well as their right to be informed and to be heard.
World Children’s Day offers an opportunity to advocate, promote and celebrate children’s rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children.
In South Africa, the inclusion in the Bill of Rights of a special section on the rights of the child was an important development for the children. Children need special protection because they are among the most vulnerable members of society. They are dependent on others – their parents and families, or the state when these fail – for care and protection. As a result, the drafters of our Constitution have made children’s rights a priority – and have stated that the best interests of a child are the overriding concern when it comes to any matter affecting them. SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa calls for the implementation of all children’s rights.
- Video of children’s recommendations to decision-makers available here.
For more information on our work, and to support our Child Protection efforts, please go to https://www.sossouthafrica.org.za/
About SOS Children’s Villages
SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights of South Africa’s marginalised children. We offer loving, family-like care for children and young people who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Established in 1984, SOS has eight Children’s Villages and three Social Centres across eight provinces.
Each year our Alternative Care, Family Strengthening and Youth Employability programmes provide life-changing support to children and families across the country.
The Alternative Care model comprises of four principles that include a mother (each child has a caring parent), brothers and sisters (the family ties grow naturally), a house (a secure place to grow up in) and a village (the SOS family is part of the community).
Our Family Strengthening Programme aims to enable children who are at risk of losing the care of their families to grow within a safe family environment. We work in co-operation with local authorities and other service providers to empower families and communities to effectively protect and care for their children.
For more information, go to https://www.sossouthafrica.org.za/
