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What is “a family”? In South African law, the answer – or rather, answers– are broad. For example, it’s not considered unusual or unacceptable for children to move between kin and to be raised at different stages by grandparents, parents and other relatives. Kinship care is a widespread and customary practice in South Africa, as it is elsewhere in southern Africa.
South Africa is one of a small number of developing countries that’s formulated a national policy focused on families. A family policy, broadly defined, refers to everything a government does to promote the well-being of families, such as social grants, family services, or social housing. The country’s policy – known as the White Paper on Families – has three priorities. They are promoting healthy family life, strengthening the family and preserving the family.
On 29 November 2018, the Constitutional Court will consider the constitutionality of the use of corporal punishment in the home. The Constitutional Court has prohibited corporal punishment in detention settings in 1995 and in schools in 2000, and this case presents the opportunity to prohibit its use in the home.
UCT News [Nov. 20, 2018] -- More than 6 million of the country’s children regularly go hungry, with dire consequences for their capacity to thrive – or even survive – according to the 2018 South African Child Gauge, which urges the government to move swiftly to address the gaps in family services.
These children live below the food poverty line which, in real terms, means their families cannot provide even the minimum amount of nutrition they need.
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Featured Publications
- POLICY BRIEF
- BRIEFING PAPER
- RESEARCH REPORT
- RESEARCH REPORT
- EARLY CHILDHOOD REVIEW 2017
- HEALTH GUIDE
Child Poverty (Early Childhood Development, Children, and Violence)
This briefing paper summarises a review of research evidence on child poverty in South Africa. The review was initially undertaken in 2011, and was updated in 2017 to reflect more recent studies. It was commissioned by the Presidency’s Programme to Support Pro-Poor Policy Development (PSPPD). The review includes both quantitative and qualitative studies, but is limited to research that focuses specifically on child poverty.
Shifting Attitudes and Behaviours Underpinning Physical Punishment of Children
The purpose of this briefing paper is to assist policy makers and practitioners to make informed decisions about interventions that could support the development and implementation of policies and programmes targeting physical punishment. This briefing paper presents evidence on largescale interventions that have been used to shift attitudes and behaviours underpinning physical punishment. In light of the paucity of evidence in relation to physical punishment, the briefing paper also presents evidence on the effectiveness of large-scale interventions targeting other forms of violence against children and intimate partner violence.
Out of Harm's Way? Tracking Child Abuse Cases Through the Child Protection System at Five Selected Sites in SA
The study aims to document how the child protection system processes reported cases of child abuse, and make recommendations about how child protection services could be strengthened, to reduce the risk of trauma to children and breaking the inter-generational cycle of violence. In particular the study generates recommendations for the specific improvement of child protection services within the local setting.
Towards a More Comprehensive Understanding of the Direct and Indirect Determinants of Violence against Women and Children in South Africa with a View to Enhancing Violence Prevention
The main objective of this report is to provide the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to Investigate the Root Causes of Violence Against Women and Children with a critical analysis of the risk and protective factors, or determinants, associated with violence (physical, sexual and emotional) against women and children in South Africa, as well as an indepth understanding of the relationship between the relevant variables, and to recommend practical violence reduction and prevention interventions.
South African Early Childhood Review 2017
Early childhood development (ECD) services are needed to support the development of young children. With commitment from government sectors to work together, an essential package of ECD services can be delivered to all South Africa’s young children. This review presents a set of indicators to support inter-sectoral planning, delivery and monitoring of an essential package of ECD services, from conception to the age of six.
Children's Act Guide for Health Professionals
This guide is for people working in the health sector, and outlines the specific provisions of the Children’s Act that apply to health professionals. It explains the children's rights and principles that inform the Act and addresses difficult questions such as how to determine the best interests of the child. The guide also details the consent requirements for different health services, and explains what to do in an emergency, or in case of conflict between parents and the child. It informs health professionals of their mandatory obligations to report abuse and neglect and examines how to interpret these requirements in light of recent court judgments. This edition includes short cases from health professionals to assist with the interpretation of the Act. UPDATE: Parliament amended the Sexual Offences Act to comply with the ConCourt ruling on consensual sex between adolescents, for the latest information click here.
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