Child protective services is the name of a government agency in many states of the South African States responsible for providing child protection, which includes responding to reports of child abuse or neglect
Child Protective Services In South Africa
The challenge
A third of girls in South Africa experience some form of violence, often from someone they know.
Violence against children remains a critical challenge facing South African society today, despite tremendous efforts to curb this scourge. The legacy of violence and extreme inequality from South Africa’s past is compounded by high poverty and unemployment in the present.
This combination places many children at risk of domestic violence, substance abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. The scale of violence in South Africa alone is deeply worrying. Perhaps more concerning is how violence has become normalized in everyday life; weaving abuse and neglect into the country’s societal fabric.
Violence disproportionately affects the most vulnerable and has taken new forms:
With South Africa’s huge HIV burden, millions of children are without parents and are placed at further risk in child-headed households.
South Africa is a major destination for refugees fleeing crises, but their children face discrimination and are often denied access to school and healthcare services.
Gender-based violence is an emergency in South Africa. While young boys are victims of all forms of violence, there are shocking levels of violence, especially sexual violence including rape, perpetrated against girls and young women.
As children and young people lead the digital uptake in South Africa, they are not only being exposed to violent material online but also becoming victims of cyberbullying.
The solution
UNICEF is committed to ending violence against children, gender-based violence and femicide.
UNICEF is working tirelessly towards the vision of a South Africa free of violence. While the scale of this challenge is daunting, with focused policy, advocacy and intervention – and with the joint commitment and resources of the South African government and other partners in civil society, the media, communities and businesses – this vision can become a reality. In protecting children and combatting violence in all its forms, we prioritise:
Changing policy and raising awareness through advocacy and social mobilization are key in combatting the normalization of gender inequality. Through increased public awareness, education and responsive policies, we can end violence.
Prevention and early intervention aims to establish programmes (like Isibindi Safe Parks and MenCare), unlock investments and provide technical support to the justice sector in preventing violence against children and assisting victims.
Social welfare and child protection systems strengthening are critical in delivering targeted cash transfers (via the Cash Plus programme) and ensuring that South Africa’s social workforce are highly trained in evidence-based best practice.
Does South Africa have Child Protective Services In South Africa?
South Africa’s child protective services are called on to address abnormally high levels of violence and other forms of maltreatment against children. These are fuelled by poverty and a ‘culture of violence’ — the legacy of colonialism and apartheid — as well as the AIDS pandemic.
What is child protection in South Africa?
Government calls on all South Africans to support Child Protection Week by ensuring that the most vulnerable in our society do not suffer abuse. … It is in our hands to stop the cycle of neglect, abuse, violence and exploitation of children.
What services are involved in child protection In South Africa?
Children and family care.
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) Early Help and Children and Family Service. The Social Work Academy. Safeguarding Children Partnership Arrangements. Leaving Care Service. Adoption. Family wellbeing. Fostering. Advice and support for looked after children. Child Rights. Child protection.
What does a social worker do in child protection In South Africa?
Social workers protect children and adults with support needs from harm. From helping keep a family under pressure together to supporting someone with mental health problems, social work is varied, demanding, often emotional, and very rewarding career.
What is the role of a child protection social worker In South Africa?
The main priority in their profession is to ensure the welfare of children. Child protection social work is about helping children and making them feel safe and secure, irrespective of whether they are living with their family of origin, with their adopted family or in any other place