One in three SA children will experience sexual or physical abuse – Study

27 May to 3 June 2018 is National Child Protection Week in South Africa. The studies, reports and figures are all there, something needs to be done. Afrika Tikkun is one organisation attempting to answer that call.

A 2017 study by the Children’s Institute of the University of Cape Town reports that one in three children will experience sexual or physical abuse before the age of eighteen.

More recently, Parliament heard that 99% of children in South Africa have experienced or witnessed violence and 41% of all reported rape cases in the last three years have been of children.

With Child Protection Week clearly desperately in need, government and organisations across the country have been gearing up with a host of multiple campaigns and programmes.

Afrika Tikkun is an NGO with a focus on child and youth development and ending youth unemployment in underprivileged communities.

Their work in the child protection arena is an ongoing effort, intended to strengthen the capacity of children to speak out against abuse and empower families and communities to care for and protect their children.

2018 is the year of child protection, and their activities during Child Protection Week 2018, are planned to further instil the theme and call-to-action Memeza Bazokuzwa or “Speak out, they will hear you”.

While addressing the launch of the group’s Child Protection Week activities, CEO Marc Lubner explained that it’s time for adults to stand up and do more.

“Young people need to understand that they can and should hold their guardians accountable for safeguarding their rights. As adults we need to acknowledge that we all have a responsibility to protect children from harm. Let us challenge the culture of tolerance for violence and silence when it is perpetrated against children!”

In terms of staff, Afrika Tikkun submits the details of every employee to SAPS for clearance, and with regards to the Child Protection Register.

You can learn more about the organisation and find out how to play your part here.