The protection of children from all forms of harm, abuse and exploitation took centre stage as the world commemorated International Children’s Day on 1 June 2026.
The occasion coincided with South Africa’s National Child Protection Week, observed from 29 May to 5 June under the theme, “Working Together to End Violence Against Children”.
Among the organisations advocating for stronger child protection measures was Parliament’s Committee on Social Development, which called on all stakeholders to intensify efforts to safeguard children’s rights and take a firm stand against the abuse of minors.
In a written statement, the Committee highlighted the alarming scale of violence against children in South Africa. It noted that more than 43,000 rape cases were recorded during the 2022/23 financial year, with approximately 10,590 involving children under the age of 18. Research further indicates that fewer than 4% of rape survivors report incidents to the police, while only 8.6% of cases that reach court result in a guilty verdict.
The Committee also pointed to concerning figures from 2020, when nearly 700 babies were born to girls aged just nine and ten years old. It emphasised that South African law places a legal obligation on adults to report child sexual abuse. Section 54 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act requires anyone with knowledge of a sexual offence against a child to report it. Failure to do so constitutes a criminal offence and may result in a prison sentence of up to five years.
The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening partnerships with faith-based organisations and the business sector to challenge harmful practices affecting children. It also cautioned against overlooking boys in initiatives aimed at creating safer communities, noting that many boys become victims of violence and sexual abuse but often remain silent due to stigma.
The observance of International Children’s Day follows the Child’s Walk initiative led by the Gauteng Department of Social Development over the weekend. During the event, children, community organisations and government partners marched to the Constitutional Court, where they handed over a memorandum of demands calling for stronger measures to protect children from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
