The Child Protection Week was officially launched by Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu on 19 May 2024 under the theme “Protecting South African Children, 30 years on”.

This year’s Child Protection Week comes when children continue to face a number of challenges. Reports state that more than half the children in South Africa continue to live below the poverty line. Violence, poverty and malnutrition, inequality, and inadequate access to essential services continue to hinder the survival, growth, and development of children. These issues require to be addressed to ensure that children’s rights are protected.

The CRU has prioritised amplifying the voices and visibility of children in the promotion of children’s rights across the country. The significance of Child Protection Week lies in its mission to mobilize key stakeholders, including the SAHRC, communities, NGOs, government bodies, and, most importantly, children themselves. The CRU emphasizes the importance of including children in the advocacy of matters affecting them under the saying "Nothing about us without us."

In commemoration of this year’s Child Protection Week, the SAHRC Child Rights Ambassadors (CRA) have united to share a crucial message about protecting children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence. The message can be accessed via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWnHwRDBK40.

Additionally, the CRU has partnered with eAfrica to host a Child Protection Fun Walk and Advocacy Event on 1 June in Kwa Thema (Springs). At this event, the SAHRC Child Rights Ambassadors will raise awareness about children’s rights. The objectives of the event are to:

• Raise awareness about child protection.
• Foster collaboration among stakeholders.
• Empower children to advocate for their rights.
• Promote the prevention of child abuse.

The CRU hopes that this campaign will strengthen efforts toward the realization of children’s rights across South Africa.

Finally, the Commission calls on government, civil society organisations and all other child orientated organisations to prioritise addressing challenges affecting children.

ENDS

For further information or inquiries, please contact Wisani Baloyi on 081 016 8308 or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission