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Ahead of the upcoming Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum 2024 in Cape Town this week, children in South Africa have voiced concerns that the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF) fails to address their specific needs.
They stressed that adults continue to hold discussions and make decisions on their behalf without considering their perspectives.
The SVRI Forum 2024, held from 21-25 October at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, is the world’s leading research conference on violence against women, children, and other forms of violence driven by gender inequality in low and middle-income countries.
Representing children at a side event yesterday, organised by the Department of Social Development and UNICEF, 17-year-old Inathi Kente, a member of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament and Western Cape Child Ambassador, made it clear that the needs and concerns of children are unique and warrant exclusive focus within the NSP-GBVF – the country’s blueprint for addressing gender-based violence and femicide.
The event was held under the theme: “Addressing Intersection Between Violence Against Children and Violence Against Women.”
Inathi noted that children from all provinces, during consultations about the NSP-GBVF, had called for a separate pillar focusing exclusively on children’s issues.
In a powerful address, Inathi lamented that adults continue to exclude them from important decision-making processes. He highlighted the fact that even the side event, which aimed to discuss the intersection between violence against women and children, was held when many children were preparing for exams, limiting their ability to participate.
He pointed out that his colleague and fellow ambassador from the Western Cape could not attend the event due to matriculation exams. Inathi himself had sacrificed his own preparation to represent South Africa’s 21 million children at the event. The children will not form part of the main conference either.
In a detailed critique of the NSP-GBVF, Inathi argued that the current document uses very strong language, which is not child-friendly.
“Children said the NSP is not considerate of them, and there is no accountability where children’s issues are concerned, given that children are not part of the portfolio committees where policies affecting their lives are discussed,” he said.
He added that the NSP does not address boys or male children, even though gender-based violence and femicide are not solely gender-biased issues.
Inathi stated that children often lack protection, having to defend themselves against perpetrators. “Children indicated that there are loopholes in the criminal justice system, with corruption in the South African Police Service (SAPS), meaning they cannot report cases without bringing an adult.”
The NSP, he said, primarily refers to violence against women, older people, and those with disabilities, with little attention given to children, indicating that their protection is not taken seriously.
The children have called for comprehensive campaigns to educate communities on violence against children, with targeted programmes and interventions for boys.
Responding to the issues raised, Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe committed to addressing the concerns and considering the inclusion of a new pillar in the NSP-GBVF focusing on children’s issues.
“The proposed Pillar 7, as advocated in the children’s report, will ensure that violence against children receives the attention and priority it deserves,” Minister Tolashe said.
