Children's rights protected through new Act

The Department of Social Development has allocated R22 million to ensure that the rights of South Africa's youngest citizens are protected through the Children's Act.  

Speaking at the launch of Child Protection Week in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya said that the Children's Act of 2005 and the Children's Amendment Act of 2007 were ready for implementation.

"It has been ten long years since work initially began on the Children's Bill. In the meantime the conditions facing the children of South Africa have deteriorated; sometimes with added complications," he said.

"Finally, we are on the home stretch to realising the constitutional rights of our children," added the Minister.

The new children's Act seeks to stipulate principles relating to the care and protection of children, define parental responsibilities and rights, determine principles and guidelines for the protection of children and the promotion of their well-being as well as regulate matters concerning the protection of children.

The Act also consolidates the law as relating to the welfare and protection of children.

Skweyiya said the strengthening and developing of community structures to assist in providing care and protection to children was also one of the main objectives of the Act.

He noted that poverty is a major cause of children becoming separated from the safety and protection of their families hence the Act aims to provide alternative care like foster care and child and youth care centres.

"Poverty is a major cause of child separation and lifting a family out of poverty can make the difference between a child growing up in a loving family environment of growing up frightened and alone."

The Act promotes the preservation and strengthening of families so as to give effect to the constitutional rights and obligation towards children and specifically family care or parental care or appropriate alternative care in cases where children are removed from their families.

Integrated social services for all children, protection of children from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation and the best interest of child as the most paramount concern of society are also ideals promoted in the Act.

Provision is made for means for promoting and monitoring the sound physical, psychological, intellectual, emotional and social development of children.

Draft regulations on the Children's Act will be published in June 2008 for comment.

The minister urged the public to submit comments to ensure successful planning and preparation for the implementation of the Act.

Source: BuaNews