By GIFT NDOLWANE
JOHANNESBURG– SOUTH Africa will next week mark the Child Protection Week coinciding with an escalation abuse of minors and women.
Ahead of the commemoration starting on Monday, Brand South Africa and the government called on citizens to protect minors through the child protection campaign.
“The future of the country is in the hands of our children and it is entirely up to civil society, government and business to safeguard our children,” they stated on Friday.
“Children’s rights are enshrined in the constitution and as a society, it is our duty to uphold and protect these rights for our children.”
The partners reiterated government had a zero-tolerance approach towards child abuse, and therefore, the urgency to work together was imperative, to collaborate with the police, prosecutors and courts to ensure that those who hurt, exploited and abused children are arrested and convicted.
Child protection Week aims to increase awareness, educate and mobilise all sectors of the society to nurture, care and protect its children.
Police have reported incidents of violence against women and children have increased countrywide.
On Friday, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) said it would observe a moment of silence before the last round of matches this weekend to honour the women and children who have been killed violently by men.
“The recent spate of femicide, rape and violent deaths towards women and children cannot be ignored,” the league said in a statement.
In bringing support and awareness to South Africa and the world, captains of the 16 elite clubs clubs will pledge to the hashtag, #NotInMyName.
“It is in this spirit that the PSL speaks against this brutal behavior by men,” PSL stated.

– Guardian