Content Topic
Child protection
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Child protection
UNICEF is committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for every child.
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Thembile’s story: how parenting support can #ENDviolence
“I used to be a very angry and violent person”. But after joining a parenting support programme, Thembile, a father of two boys aged 14 and 11, says, “I’m now able to think before I act”. Parenting support reduces violence at home and in our communities. It is a crucial tool to #ENDviolence and Thembile’s story illustrates the transformative power…, Thembile:, My name is Thembile. I am the father of two boys, Junior and Aza. Junior is 14 years ol...

Statement
Parenting support: A crucial tool to #ENDviolence
PRETORIA, 25 November 2024, – “More than 3 children and 10 women were murdered daily in South Africa between July and September 2024, according to the latest South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics . Another 490 children were victims of attempted murder, marking a shocking increase of 35.7% since the ...

Press release
Children in South Africa today: An analysis
PRETORIA, 20 November 2024:, To commemorate World Children's Day today, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has published a Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in South Africa 2024 Situation Analysis report detailing the wellbeing of children and adolescents in South Africa across various social...

Document
Budget brief series 2024
UNICEF South Africa is proud to present a new series of Budget Briefs that cover the issues of equity in spending and outcomes for children, child protection financing, and the issue of WASH in South African public schools. The Budget Briefs cover the periods 2022 and 2023 and focus on all three spheres of governm...

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Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it
We brought together UNICEF specialists, international cyberbullying and child protection experts, and teamed up with Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and X to answer some of the most common questions about online bullying and give advice on ways to deal with it. What is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying is bullyi...

Explainer
Video games and children: A guide for parents
Learning, creativity, connections – video games offer some amazing opportunities for children of all ages (and grown-ups). But parents can find it tricky to navigate the topic of video games with their children. What games? How much screen time? What are the risks? We spoke to video games expert Professor Daniel J...

Press release
UNICEF South Africa calls for children to be protected and prioritized, as the country marks 30-years of democracy
PRETORIA, 25 April 2024, – Thirty years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa and ahead of the latest national elections, when citizens will again exercise their right to vote, UNICEF South Africa releases its ‘ Time to PROTECT and PRIORITIZE Manifesto for Every Child in South Africa 2024: Time to PROTECT an...

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Time to Protect and Prioritize
Thirty years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa and in a year of national elections, the ‘ Manifesto for Every Child in South Africa 2024: Time to PROTECT and PRIORITIZE’ calls for children and young people – the nation’s largest and greatest resource – to be put front and center in the country’s developm...

Explainer
Bullying: What is it and how to stop it
Watching your child experience the physical and emotional pain of bullying or cyberbullying is heartbreaking. Some parents are unsure where to begin to help protect their children from bullying and violence. Others may not know if their children are victims, bystanders or even perpetrators of harmful behaviours. ...

Explainer
How to talk to your child's school about bullying
School leaders and teachers are important allies for preventing and addressing bullying. Bullying behaviour often takes place in school classrooms and hallways, where teachers and administrators can intervene. But the classroom is also an ideal setting for educating children about bullying and its harmful conseque...

Video essay
Safe Parks: A refuge for children
Freedom Park, a community located in Soweto, Johannesburg faces challenges, like many areas, of poverty, violence and abuse. However, there is a place that offers support and hope. At the local Safe Park, child and youth care worker Samuel Motaung helps children growing up in the same environment as he did to f...

Explainer
Burns, scalds and fire-related injuries
Burns and scalds are painful and severe ones can result in permanent disability. They often happen at home, and young children are particularly at risk because their skin is thinner than adult skin. The good news is that children can be protected from these injuries by making some simple changes in your home. Jump...