Joining hands to promote the rights of children during the COVID-19 pandemic

On Saturday 06 November 2021, we commemorate National Children's Day and reflect on how the ongoing COVID‑19 pandemic has transformed children's day-to-day lives. The pandemic and the associated Disaster Management Regulation responses of confinement and social distancing have affected almost every part of a child's life, particularly their psychological, social and physical well-being, with the poorest children hit hardest.

Since the pandemic first hit South African shores, formal care arrangements, education, and various protection services offered by early childhood development centres, schools, and other organisations have been disrupted. In particular, COVID-19 has exacerbated the danger of children experiencing abuse, violence at home and poor nutrition. Additionally, lockdown measures have reduced opportunities for children to participate in extra circular activities, come in contact with other forms of supportive structures in their communities which could help them access the justice system and vital child protection services.

"We are all doing our best to process the change brought forth by the pandemic. Whilst many of us are aware that this period of disturbance will be temporary, we will slowly return to the way we normally did things, for our younger citizens, and depending on their age, this may not be such an obvious thought. In this regard, let us rise to the occasion to ensure that protecting the rights of children has to be at the top of society's agenda.

I wish to reiterate that our child protection services have been, and still are available and encourage families and communities to not ignore any warning signs, and approach their nearest DSD office for help,” the Western Cape Minister for Social Development, Sharna Fernandez.

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) prioritises the development and protection of the province's children. The Department's Children and Families programme receive R294 million for 21/22 financial year.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, the DSD, with the support of its Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), provides a basket of services to promote and ensure that children's rights are upheld. These services include:

• Early Childhood Development and Partial Care services promote early childhood development. They are provided by a person, other than a child's parents or caregiver, regularly to children up to school-going age.
• Child Care and Protection Services – to safeguard and promote child well-being and build the resilience of families and communities to care for and protect their children
• Care and Supportive Services to Families - to promote functional families and to prevent vulnerability in families.
• Social Crime Prevention Services provides a range of specialised probation services to persons (children, youth and adults) in conflict with the law and their victims to reduce recidivism.
• Substance abuse services - (out-patient) early intervention, treatment, & aftercare are services offered to a person who uses drugs and alcohol in a hazardous & harmful way and whose behaviour negatively affects the people around them.
• Victim empowerment services - to support victims and survivors of crime and violence, including Gender-Based Violence and their families, to deal with the impact of the incident, which they have experienced.
• Specialised services for children with disabilities: Disability awareness and educational programmes; developmental supportive and therapeutic services (social work interventions): counselling, support group programmes and daycare programmes; support programmes for families/caregivers and; protective workshops services and residential care services.

"If we are to ensure that every child is protected and raised in an enabling environment, then government, civil society and parents need to work in partnership. Together, we can honour our children on National Children's Day, and 365 days of the year," concluded Minister Fernandez.