“The protection of our children’s rights is one of our priorities. That is the main reason why we are gathered here today to ensure that those rights are known and understood by everyone. It is our duty as a community to sit down and evaluate our child protection plans and to try and come up with ways to protect our vulnerable children at all times.”

These were the words of Cllr Nkele Milanzi of the Musina Municipal Council when addressing hundreds of children and representatives of community structures during the child protection week awareness campaign at the Skoonplaas Stadium in Musina on Saturday.

She said that millions of children were exposed to abuse, violence and neglect each and every day in every part of the country, while some people sat around and folded their arms. “A your-child-is-my-child-and-my-child-is-your-child mindset can help in protecting our children from all those who do not value the safety of our future leaders. Children have the right to feel safe and have a feeling of belonging, but most importantly, to receive care from their loved ones and the community members at large. We should aim for the safety and well-being of all children, regardless of colour, background and nationality.”

She said parents played an important role in child protection and empahisised that it was their responsibility to ensure that the safety of their children was looked after, but the chain doid not end there as schools and communities were responsible for creating a safe environment. “It is our responsibility to build a healthy and safe environment for our children, so that they can fully learn, grow and fulfill their dreams. Let’s all stand together against any form of child abuse.”

She urged the members to report any form of abuse. “Together we can mold our future leaders by observing and protecting their rights jealously.”

Representing Save the Children (an NGO which deals with children's issues), Makgapo Eric Mahlo said that children in South Africa lived in a society with a constitution that had the highest regard for their rights and dignity. “We should all stand up to make sure that children’s rights are protected on a daily basis.”

Among the speakers who gave messages of support during the event were representatives from the Legal Aid Board, Thuthuzela Care Centre, SAPS, Lawyers for Human Rights, Department of Social Development and the International Organization for Migration. Green and white balloons were released into the air as a way of condemning child abuse and celebrating child protection week.