Question NW245 to the Minister of Social Development
20 April 2023 - NW245
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)What are the plans of her department to combat the atrocious and brutal murder of children, some not even a year old, in the Republic, which requires urgent intervention of her department as the custodian of children as envisioned in the Children’s Act, Act 38 of 2005; (2) whether her department will furnish Ms A L A Abrahams with their plan of action on curbing the murder of children; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether each provincial department of social development will be required to provide their plan of action on curbing the murder of children; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW249E
Reply:
(1) The Department leads the implementation of Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF 2019-2024) which is about Response, Care, Support and Healing; and also contribute to Pillar 1 which is about Prevention to combat the atrocious and brutal murder of children. NSP-GBVF 2019-2024 is the government’s Framework aimed at providing a multi-sectoral coherent strategic policy and programming to eliminate gender-based violence and Femicide against women and children. The following are interventions that currently implemented by provinces, however there is a need to upscale these programmes in all communities where there is none. The upscaling is dependent on the increase in resources.
Pillar 1: Prevention.
a) Implementation of Social and Behaviour Change programmes namely;
(i)Traditional Rock Leadership-a programme that empowers Traditional Leaders with the knowledge and skills to assist their communities to address GBVF, substance abuse, HIV and other social ills
(ii) Family Matters programme- Enhances positive parenting skills to initiate conversations, sstrengthen relationships and protect children from violence and murder and other risk behaviours.
(iii) Community Capacity Enhancementoialogues.
(iv) Let’s talk Family strengthening programme- Adolescents focus on building skills for better emotional coping, communication, and problem solving.
(v) Men championing change- Mobilise men to effectively prevent and efficiently respond to issues that adversely affect our communities; and for men to be positive role models in their families (in particular children) and to act as progressive leaders in communities,
(vi) Boys championing change- the programme targets boys under the age of 18 years old and is aimed at empowering Adolescent boys to express more favourable attitudes towards gender equity and an increased value of girls and women in the society.
(vii) Chommy- targets children (both genders) between the ages of 10 and 14 under. It instils active citizenry by using indigenous games to stimulate dialogues on issues around child protection, HIV prevention, gender-based violence and substance abuse.
(viii) You Only Leave Once(YOLO)- creates a safe and enabling environment for youth dialogues, where young people can discuss social issues including violence against children, HIV prevention, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and Femicide, positive values and decision making around sex and sexuality. It builds resilience and increase self-esteem.
(ix) Ke Moja- Creates awareness among young people about harmful effects of substance abuse.
(x) Zazi-
(xi) A Sikhulume- A programme that capacitate and empower the religious sector on how to protect women and children against violence and murder in their sector.
(xii) Risiha- aims at moving children from vulnerability to resilience
Social Development is spearheading the implementation of INSPIRE strategies which are evidence-based solutions as advocated by WHO to address violence against children. In an effort to operationalise the INSPIRE strategies, the department implements the 365 days child protection campaign with technical support from UNICEF targeting provinces with highest number of cases of violence against children.
(2) The Department’s plan is embedded within the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF 2019-2024), supporting implementation of Pilllar 1 and leading the implementation of Pillar 4 of the NSP-GBVF. (NSP on GBVF is attached). In addition, the Department developed an Intersectoral Protocol for the prevention and Management of Violence against children, child abuse, neglect and exploitation. The Department monitors provinces on quarterly basis on the implementation of this protocol.
(3) Provinces are implementing the NSP-GBVF. On annual basis provinces are required to share their plans on the implementation of the activities of the NSP-GBVF. The activities of the NSP-GBVF are the implementation of programmes as indicated above in question 1.