Igniting Africa’s Child

What is our dream for our children’s future?

Our dream is for our children to live in a safe world where they can celebrate their childhood and enjoy just being children. A world in which they can learn, love, laugh, play, dream and realize their full potential. Most importantly, they need to be given equal opportunities, universal access to knowledge, skills, values and attitudes. These are necessary for their survival as they live in such a challenging world. A world that is inflicted with disease, death, poverty, hunger, crime, abuse. These are just a few out of many other challenges that face them daily in their lives. It is therefore imperative that we instill in our children a strong sense of who they are and that we excite them as to what lies ahead. Needless to say, we need to shower them with love, fiercely protect them and teach them all what they need to know to live their lives fully and positively. Not forgetting to talk to them in the language that they understand. We need to create a space that will enable them to heal. Most importantly, to give them an opportunity to express themselves authentically about who they are. Thus we want to move away from the conventional method of talking down to children but rather talking with them. Children teach us life’s lessons in the most precious and innocent of ways. Therefore it is our calling to enable them to unearthing their genius, inner wisdom and their power.

Even better, let them be!
Despite all the challenges that face them

Undoubtedly children are the seeds of our nation’s flowers, waiting to bloom. We must nurture them and grow them so that they can reach for the sun.

Conversely, in sub-Saharan Africa, the percentage of the region’s orphans whose parents died from HIV/AIDS has grown and it is estimated that the number of children who will have lost at least one parent to HIV/AIDS will be a staggering 20 million in a few years. This alone helps us to proactively explore innovation solutions to how we are going to support child-headed households.

South African children are at risk across a wide spectrum of violent experiences. Given this harsh reality, we need to join hands and resources to address this challenge. We need to value children and what they know and use that as building blocks to create new meaning and understanding. Thus open our children’s eyes to new ways of seeing the world by giving them content which captures their lives and that relates to their challenges in order to help them rebuild their diverse experiences and unique situations.

Therefore our country and continent should be a sanctuary where the body, mind and soul can be brought in balance to experience the wholeness of liberation. We need to provide a space for children to be able to find their magnificence in a relaxed, safe, holistic and natural environment thus enabling them to feel their truth. A place where they can learn about healthy living; where new and innovative games allow them to reach their full potential; at the same time holistic techniques like yoga for children will be offered. It also needs to be a place where children can be children over and above care and counselling – a place where important human values can be nurtured. A playground for growth and development and a place to garner the essence of being children. It needs to be a place that encourages values such as love, sharing, caring and the art of discipline. As well as focus on affirming and empowering children struggling with the dynamics of growing up in a pressurised society.

The Children’s Charter of South Africa

Preamble

We, the delegates of the International Children’s Summit held from 27 May to 1 June 1992, acting as representatives from the regions of Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Southern Cape, Northern Cape, Boland, Border, Midlands, Southern Natal, Northern Natal, Namaqualand, PWV, Eastern Transvaal, Western Transvaal, Northern Transvaal, Northern Orange Free State, Southern Orange Free State, Transkei and on behalf of all the children of South Africa,

Realizing that,

all children are created equal and are entitled to basic human rights and freedoms and that all children deserve respect and special care and protection as they develop and grow and

Recognizing that,

within South Africa, children have not been treated with respect and dignity, but as a direct result of Apartheid have been subjected to discrimination, violence and racism that has destroyed families and communities and has disrupted education and social relationships and

Acknowledging that,

at the present time, children have not been placed on the agenda of any political party, or the existing government or within the CODESA negotiations and are not given the attention that they deserve.

Taking into consideration the cultural values, languages, and traditions of all the children and,

Recognizing the

urgent need for attention to improving the life of children and protecting their rights in every region, in particular those regions which have been especially subjected to violence, political unrest and poverty.

Have agreed upon the following:

Part 1

Article One

For the purposes of the charter, a child means any person under the age of 18 years old, unless otherwise stated.

Article Two

Children have been and continue to be abused, tortured, mistreated, neglected and abandoned by the people ofSouth Africa. Children are not treated with the respect and dignity that every human being deserves, but instead are subjected to violence, poverty, racism, and the ignorance of adults. Children continue to suffer from the inequalities of apartheid, especially in the area of education. Children do not receive proper health and medical care and attention, yet do not have the right to demand treatment. Children are arrested, tried without lawyers and held in prisons.

Children are beaten and abused by the police and by gangs and other adults. Children are the future leaders of tomorrow, but they are not given the right to participate in consultations or negotiations about their future. The government and other political parties have put children last, not first.

We therefore set forth that all children ofSouth Africaare entitled to the following rights and protections:

Part II

Article One

1. All children have the right to protection and guarantees of all the rights of the Charter and should not be discriminated against because of his / her or his / her parents or family’s colour, race, sex, language, religion, personal or political opinion, nationality, disability or for any other reason.
2. All political parties, the government, CODESA, the future government, communities, families, and parents should do everything possible to ensure that children are not discriminated against due to his / her or his / her parents or family’s colour, race, sex, language, religion, personal or political opinion, nationality, disability or for any other reason.

Article Two

All children have the right to a name and nationality as soon as they are born.

Article Three

1. All children have the right to express their own opinions and the right to be heard in all matters that affect his / her rights and protection and welfare.
2. All children have the right to be heard in courtrooms and hearings affecting their future rights and protection and welfare and to be treated with the special care and consideration within those courtrooms and hearings which their age and maturity demands.
3. All children have the right to free legal representation if arrested.
4. All children have the right to participate in the government of the country and special attention should be given to consultations with children on their rights and situation.

Article 4

All children have the right to freedom to practice their own religion, culture or beliefs without fear.

Article Five

Violence

1. All children have the right to be protected from all types of violence including:

physical, emotional, verbal, psychological, sexual, state, political, gang, domestic, school, township and community, street, racial, self-destructive and all other forms of violence.

2. All children have the right to freedom from corporal punishment at school, from the police and in prisons, and at home.
3. All children have the right to be protected from neglect and abandonment.
4. All children have the right to be protected from township and political violence and to have “safe places” and to have community centres where they can go for help and safety from violence.
5. All children have the right to be educated about child abuse and the right to form youth groups to protect them from abuse.
6. All persons have the duty to report all violence against, abuse of and neglect of any child to the appropriate authorities.
7. Children should not be used as shields or tools by the perpetrators of violence.
8. Children have the right to say no to violence.
9. The media has the duty to prevent the exploitation of children who are victims of violence and should be prohibited from the promotion of violence.
10. All children have the right to be protected from violence by the police and in prisons.
11. Children should not be obligated or forced to follow adults in their political involvements.
12. All children have the right to be free from torture, detention or any other physical or emotional violence during Apartheid or at times of unrest or war.
13. All children have the right to be protected from drug and alcohol abuse by their parents, families and others and to be educated about these forms of violence.
14. Children have the right to a special children’s court and medical facilities to protect them from violence.
15. Special groups and organizations should be formed within the communities to protect and counsel victims of all types of violence.
16. No child should be held in prison or police cells at any time.

Article 6

Family Life

1. All children have the right to a safe, secure and nurturing family and the right to participate as a member of that family.
2. All children have the right to love and affection from their parents and family.
3. All children have the right to clothing, housing and a healthy diet.
4. All children have the right to clean water, sanitation and a clean living environment.
5. All children have the right to be protected from domestic violence.
6. All children who do not have a family should be provided with a safe and secure place to live and clothing and nutritious food within the cornmunity where they live.

Article Eight

Education

1. All children have the right to free and equal, non-racial, non-sexist and compulsory education within one department as education is a right not a privilege.
2. All children have a right to education which is in the interest of the child and to develop their talents through education, both formal and informal.
3. All teachers should be qualified and should treat children with patience, respect and dignity. All teachers should be evaluated and monitored to ensure that they are protecting the rights of the child.
4. Parents have the duty to become involved in their children’s education and development and to participate in their children’s education at school and at home.
5. All children have the right to play and to free and adequate sports and recreational facilities so that children can be children.
6. All children have the right to participate in the evaluation and upgrading of curriculum which respects all the traditions, cultures and values of children inSouth Africa.
7. All children have the right to education on issues such as sexuality, AIDS, human rights, history and background ofSouth Africaand family life.
8. All children have the right to adequate educational facilities and the transportation to such facilities should be provided to children in difficult or violent situations.

Article 9

Child Labour

1. All children have the right to be protected from child labour and any other economic exploitation which endangers a child’s mental, physical, or psychological health and interferes with his / her education so that he / she van develop properly and enjoy childhood.
2. All children, especially in rural areas, should be protected from hard labour including farm, domestic or manual labour or any other type of labour.
3. All children have the right to be protected from prostitution and sexual exploitation such as pornography.
4. There should be a minimum age of employment and no child should be forced to leave school prior to the completion of matric for the purposes of employment.
5. There should be regulations and restrictions on the hours and types of work and penalties for those who violate these regulations.
6. All children have the right to be protected from child slavery and from the inheritance of labour or employment from their parent or family.

Article Ten

Homeless Children

1. No child should be forced to live on the streets.
2. Homeless children have the right to be protected from harassment and abuse from police, security guards and all other persons and every person has the duty to report any abuse or violence against children.
3. Homeless children have the right to a decentplace to live, clothing and a healthy diet.
4. Street children have the right to special attention in education and health care.
5. Communities and families have a duty to protect their children from becoming homeless and abandoned.
6. All persons should be made aware of the plight of homeless children and should participate in programmes which act to positively eradicate the problem of homeless children.
7. The government has the duty and responsibility for homeless children.

Resolutions

We, the children of South Africa, therefore demand that:

1. The existing government, the African National Congress, the Pan Africanist Congress, Inkatha Freedom Party, CODESA, the National Party, the Democratic Party and all other parties presently involved in negotiations acknowledge, adopt and support the Children’s Charter via the establishment of committees, working groups and commissions that will ensure that children’s rights will no longer be ignored in South Africa and that children will be placed first on the agenda, not last. Also, that these groups act to support existing children’s structures and organisations.
2. A children’s representative or council of representatives should be placed on CODESA, and within the existing and future governments. Children have the right to participate in and be consulted with about Government.
3. The future constitution and bill of rights includes special provisions for children’s care and protection and development.
4. The National Children’s Committee (NCRC) and all other children’s structures and organisations, both domestic and international, acknowledge, accept and support the Children’s Charter in as many ways as possible.
5. That communities and regions act to acknowledge, adopt and support the Children’s Charter and ensure that the needs of their children are addressed with urgency.
6. That the delegates of the Summit act to ensure that their regions, communities, schools, families, adults and peers are informed about the Children’s Charter and that there is continuing evaluation about the way forward to a culture of children’s rights.

Children will no longer remain silent about their rights, but will speak and even shout out about their needs and demands.

Approved on this the 1st day of June 1992.

Children Speak Out…

Molo Songololo had the unique opportunity to host the “International Summit on The Rights of Children inSouth Africa”, which was held over 27th May to 1st June 1992 in Somerset West,Cape Town. The summit at which the ‘Children’s Charter of South Africa’ was drawn up and adopted, has been a historical turning point in realising a culture of children’s participation in child rights advocacy.

The summit brought together over 200 children, between the ages of 12 and 16 years. Children came from 20 different regions all overSouth Africaand were representative of race, class gender and disability. At the summit children discussed the problems facing them and spoke out about the continuing violations of human rights. They recognised that Apartheid still affects them and that children are not treated with respect and dignity.

“Where is the new South Africa you all talk about? Show us, because we do not see it…!” was loudly heard throughout the summit.

More importantly, the children drew up and adopted the first ‘Children’s Charter of South Africa’. The charter reflects the voices of children and their desperate plea to be respected and consulted on issues affecting them and their future. A number of unconventional clauses, reflecting the demand of a diverse group of children are made in various articles. These clauses are particularly challenging as they mirror the experiences and feelings of children and what they want done on Violence, Family Life, Health and Welfare, Education, Child Labour and Homelessness. This makes the charter uniquely South African.

The children are demanding to be put first on the political agenda not last, They are looking to the present negotiations to provide answers to their cries . They recognise that the pending new constitution and bill of rights, will have major implications for the realisation of the kind of rights set out in the charter. They resolved that ‘Children will no longer remain silent about their rights, but will speak and even shout out their needs and demands.

Finally, the summit delegates must be commended for their courage, leadership and commitment.South Africacan be proud of them for setting the pace for children’s rights. Molo Songololo challenges all people and organisations to support the children, their charter and to help contribute to realise Children’s Rights inSouth Africa.

The summit was part of the ‘International Conference on the Rights of Children inSouth Africa’ which followed on the l0th-13th June 1992. The conference was hosted by the Community Law Centre of the University of theWestern Capeand focused developing policy on children’s rights. Both these events was a result of the Harare Conference on Children, Repression and Law inSouth Africaheld in 1987.

“Except for Love, there is no greater gift one
can give another than the Gift of Growth.” Chip R. Bell

These profound yet humble words of Chip Bell, remind us that we are the architects of tomorrow’s leaders, our children.  We are not only faced with the daunting yet most challenging task of all – to raise our children to be valuable members of society and decent human beings but also to deconstruct cultural barriers and provide African solutions that surpasses all the botherations and prejudice that our children face but most importantly, to teach our children that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your dream.  Life begins by trying to do things that seem impossible.

We are all learners and teachers who inspire trust and confidence and can teach ourselves to be capable of being formidable.

Hope creates Greatness and Courage