Overview: Child Protection

Overview: Child Protection

Thuthuzela Care Centres

Thuthuzela Care Centres

Orphans and vulnerable children

Orphans and vulnerable children

Alternative care

Alternative care

Engaging men and boys

Engaging men and boys

Sonke Gender Justice Network

Sonke Gender Justice Network

Children on the move

Children on the move

Newsline

Newsline

 

Sonke Gender Justice Network

© UNICEF/South Africa/2007/Schermbrucker

AIDS has put an enormous strain on the fragile situation of children and their vulnerability to illness, malnutrition, abuse and neglect even within the family context.

Background
UNICEF has been partnered with Sonke Gender Justice since 2006.  The relationship started with support for the project in two of the provinces in South Africa hardest hit by the HIV and AIDS pandemic and violence against children, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

In these two provinces, the organization works with men and boys on issues related to gender-based violence and HIV and AIDS, protection care and support to orphans and vulnerable children and on responsible parenting.

AIDS has put an enormous strain on the fragile situation of children and their vulnerability to illness, malnutrition, abuse and neglect even within the family context. This, in turn, has made the involvement of men in the lives of children all the more urgent.

Addressing the central role of men
The impetus for the Sonke/UNICEF partnership was the need to address the central role of men in meeting the needs of orphans and vulnerable children – particularly in the protection, care and support of OVC. The work of Sonke Gender Justice has focused on putting men at the forefront of the battle against the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS, reducing violence against women and children and increasing the capacity of men to care and support for OVC.

Recognising the important work undertaken by this project, UNICEF entered into the partnership with Sonke in 2006 with the view of documenting the work of the project in order to take it to scale in South Africa. UNICEF plays a central role in this regard in that UNICEF is strategically situated to advocate for the continued support and roll out of the project through our relationship with national, provincial and local government partners.

Related Links

Sonke Gender Justice website

Article in Mail and Guardian: 'Sometimes I don’t feel safe' -  Childhood in rural KwaZulu-Natal is short and often difficult. Poverty, hunger, lack of social services, crime and HIV are some of the struggles children shouldn't have to face, but do.