CHILDREN CALL FOR DEDICATED 7TH PILLAR IN NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE

Precious Mupenzi

• Children across South Africa are calling for the inclusion of a dedicated 7th Pillar in the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF), stressing the need for their specific challenges to be addressed separately from women’s concerns. This request emerged during provincial consultations, where children highlighted the principle of “Nothing about us without us,” and pointed out the need for both boys and girls to be included in conversations about violence and abuse.
• The children’s report, handed over to Minister Sisisi Tolashe in Benoni on 19 October 2024, advocates for more child-centred policies, focusing on issues such as violence in schools, homes, and communities. The report reflects the frustration of many children who feel their voices have been overlooked, and calls for changes such as child-friendly language and increased involvement in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
• The launch of the report follows extensive consultations led by the Department of Social Development, which revealed significant gaps in the original NSP. The proposed 7th Pillar is seen as a crucial step toward ensuring children’s perspectives are integrated into the fight against gender-based violence and femicide, and that they are empowered to actively participate in shaping policies that affect their safety and well-being.

Children across South Africa are calling for the inclusion of a dedicated 7th Pillar in the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF) to address their specific needs. They are advocating for representation on every platform where their issues are discussed, asserting their right to speak for themselves rather than being grouped with women’s concerns. This call emerged during provincial consultation sessions, where children emphasised the principle of “Nothing about us without us.” They pointed out that both boys and girls are abused by men and women, urging the country to stop excluding boys from conversations about abuse.

Presenting the children’s report, which was handed over to the Minister of Social Development, Ms. Sisisi Tolashe, in Benoni, Gauteng, yesterday, 14-year-old Child Ambassador Bokamuso Kubheka stressed the importance of incorporating children’s voices in addressing violence and exploitation. “For us children, this is a milestone,” Kubheka remarked, noting that a pillar specifically dedicated to children ensures that “children’s voices matter.” He emphasised that children’s perspectives are essential for building a comprehensive response to violence, especially in schools, homes, and communities, where children are most vulnerable.

The children’s report is a direct outcome of their advocacy for change, with many expressing frustration at being overlooked, despite their ability to voice their own challenges. They argued that their issues need dedicated attention, as their experiences with violence differ from those of adults. Additionally, they pointed out that the language used in the NSP is often too complex for them to understand. One child shared that she had to use a dictionary to comprehend certain terms, reinforcing the need for more accessible, child-friendly policies.

This significant milestone was celebrated as Minister Sisisi Tolashe officially launched the report, representing close to 20 million children in South Africa. The collective message from children was clear: they must be at the centre of efforts to address violence and exploitation. By advocating for their own seat at the table, they are pushing for meaningful involvement in the decisions that affect their lives.

The launch closely follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Children and Adolescent Sector Consultation in Boksburg. In his address, the President emphasised the critical role of youth, stating, “It is a moment of fundamental consequence in the life of our nation. It is a moment when we choose to either move forward together or risk losing all that we have built.”

The NSP-GBVF framework, initially designed to respond to gender-based violence, now incorporates a specific pillar for children following consultations led by the Department of Social Development. These consultations, conducted across all nine provinces, revealed significant gaps in the original NSP regarding violence against children. The report highlights that children face violence in multiple settings, such as schools, where corporal punishment persists, and in homes and communities affected by poverty and substance abuse.

Kubheka expressed the significance of children’s participation in this process, stating, “This report is a reflection of our voices and experiences. For the first time, we have been able to engage directly with policymakers on issues that affect us.” The report calls for urgent action from the government and its partners, as the current NSP-GBVF does not adequately address violence against children.

During the consultations, children identified major gaps in the existing NSP-GBVF pillars and offered three solutions: revising the situational analysis to reflect children’s issues more clearly, developing a new Pillar 7 focused on children, or creating a separate NSP specifically for violence against children. Kubheka emphasised the importance of ensuring that children’s experiences are reflected in the NSP so their needs can be effectively addressed.

The consultations underscored the distinct challenges children face compared to adults, reinforcing the call for tailored solutions. “The issues we experience are different from those of women and require specific responses,” Kubheka noted. The children also raised concerns about the lack of child-friendly language in the NSP, the insufficient focus on boys and male youth in GBV prevention, and gaps in accountability within child protection services.

The children’s sector concluded that meaningful changes to the NSP-GBVF are essential to address the realities of children’s lives. The proposed Pillar 7, focusing on children, marks a transformative step in ensuring that children are not only protected but also empowered to participate in decision-making processes concerning their well-being. The launch of the children’s report solidifies the government’s commitment to building a safer, more inclusive environment for all children in South Africa.