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Media Statement
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT RECOGNISES AND PROTECTS MIGRANT AND REPATRIATED CHILDREN
Pretoria, 26 May 2024: South Africa can look back and see the strides it has made when it promised the world that it would protect all children within its borders. President Nelson Mandela during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in May 1994, pronounced that: “Children under the age of six and pregnant mothers will receive free medical care in every state hospital and clinic where such need exists. Similarly, a nutritional feeding scheme will be implemented in every primary school where such need is established.”
President Mandela also announced the need to combat “social pathologies as widespread poverty, the breakdown of family life, crime, alcohol and drug abuse, the abuse of children, women and the elderly and the painful reality of street children” while emphasising an urgent call, for the emptying of prisons of children and their placement in suitable alternative care.
To fast track this commitment, for the past three decades, various pieces of legislation, including the Constitution and the Children’s Act were passed to improve the living conditions of children in South Africa.
When South Africa was readmitted to participate in international bodies, it ratified the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child (UNCRC). It is obligated through the Children’s Act, UNRC and the African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child to protect every child within its borders regardless of nationality.
The government of South Africa ensures that all children get the necessary care and protection. This includes a thorough assessment before they can be safely integrated with families or their home countries. The department has a cross-border Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Zimbabwe and Lesotho, especially, on children. The MOU is about cooperation in relation to the provision of social services between the two countries.
In the realisation of this cooperation, there are cross-border meetings held quarterly to discuss issues faced by unaccompanied and separated children on the move, seeking solutions and unblocking challenges that are in the best interest of the child.
The department works with international organisations like Save the Children and UNICEF, the International Organisation for Migration to ensure that the rights of children on the move are protected. To this effect, UNICEF estimates that South Africa has the largest number of children on the move.
The department is also the custodian of the Trafficking in Persons Act and leads Pillar 4 of the Gender Based Violence and Femicide National Strategic Plan, thus providing extensive child protection services to children. The role of the department is to protect, care and support victims of trafficking, most of whom are comprised of women and children. Trafficking victims are accommodated soon after identification and receive psychosocial support with focus on dealing with the trauma they experienced during exploitation by traffickers.
The International Social Services (ISS) directorate within the department, assists South African children distressed in foreign countries.
MIGRANT CHILDREN IN ALTERNATIVE CARE
In the year 2020, there were 657 migrant children in alternative care. This number has increased and could be at between 900 to 1000 based on the number of new cases received per year and repatriations or family reunification that took place.
REPATRIATION STATISTICS FROM 2005 TO DATE
Brazil: 3 - the children are South African Citizens
Malawi: 2 - the children are South African Citizens
Mozambique: 2 - the children are South African Citizens
Zimbabwe: 7 - 2 were Democratic Republic of Congo Citizens but their parents were refugees in South Africa
Ghana: 1 – the child is a South African Citizen
United Kingdom: 1 – the child is a South African Citizen
Peru: 1 – the child is a South African Citizen
Mauritius: 1 – the child is a South African Citizen
Canada: 2 – the children are South African Citizens
Senegal: 1 – the child is a South African Citizen
Tanzania: 2 – the children are South African Citizens
The total number of children repatriated during this period is 23 from 11 countries.
These achievements are part of the 365 Days Child Protection Campaign, unfolding under the theme: “Protecting South Africa’s Children 30 Years on”; to raise awareness and protect children from amongst others, abuse, neglect, abduction, and human trafficking.
ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Media enquiries may be forwarded to Ms Lumka Oliphant on 083 484 8067 or lumkao@dsd.gov.za
Catch the latest episode of migrant children who are in the country and their stories of displacement. Today, 26 May 2024 at 18:00 on:
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