The ongoing reports of violence, abuse, neglect, and systemic failure to protect children are not just tragic they are unacceptable as they continue to rob children of their rights and futures. The Commission condemns, in the strongest terms, the senseless killing of children in South Africa. Every lost life is a stark reminder of the failure to uphold the basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution and international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is not just a tragedy it is a damning indictment of a society that has failed its youngest members.

 It is time for a renewed national commitment to defend, protect, and nurture every child in every corner of our country. Protection, however, extends beyond protection from violence or a week. It includes the right to food, health care, safe and inclusive education, shelter, access to identity documentation, social support, and loving family care. Far too many children are denied these rights due to poverty, underdevelopment, or institutional neglect. Children with disabilities face compounded discrimination denied access to assistive care, inclusive learning, social interaction, and often left invisible in both public discourse and government policy.

Child protection must extend beyond symbolic observances. It demands action across all spheres of government and society. We therefore issue a firm and public call to action to all duty bearers.

Above all, we emphasise that rights are not optional and are never isolated. A child without food cannot concentrate in school. A child without safe transport cannot access education. Every child has a right to access healthcare services irrespective of their legal status in the country. A child with a disability, excluded from services, is denied dignity and opportunity. These intersecting rights must be realised holistically for any single right to be meaningful.

We also call on families and communities to recommit to their central role in nurturing and protecting children through love, accountability, and involvement. Social grants, while vital, must be accompanied by programmes that support responsible, informed, and caring parenting.

We call on government, civil society, the private sector, parents, and communities to act decisively and collaboratively. Let this not be another week of awareness alone let it be the catalyst for sustained action and accountability: A country that fails to protect its children cannot claim to be just, equal, or free.

Ends

Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission