PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Stephen Blight Chief of Child Protection & AndriesViviers Social Policy Specialist 25 May 2010 sblight@unicef.org or aviviers@unicef.org http://www.unicef.org/southafrica PRESENTATION TO THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

2. Preamble • South Africa has made extraordinary advances over the past 14 years, but there remain many challenges, all of them with consequences for children and women.

3. UNICEF@Work • With its strong presence in 190 countries, UNICEF is the world's leading advocate for children. • UNICEF operates as one of several United Nations Agencies in South Africa • UNICEF’s work is guided by the UNDAF (United Nations Development Assistance Framework) as agreed with the Government of South Africa • UNICEF does not work on its own. Instead, we develop a Country Programme with Government and civil society partners. • It is only through the involvement of our partners, communities and most importantly, children and young people, that we can understand what is required to build a world fit for children.

4. UNICEF@Work (2) • UNICEF supports government and civil society in progressing the rights of children, while retaining its impartiality and neutrality • UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary funds. Governments contribute two thirds of our resources; private groups and some 6 million individuals contribute the rest through our National Committees.  • Guiding and monitoring all of UNICEF's work is a 36-member Executive Board made up of government representatives. They establish policies, approve programmes and decide on administrative and financial plans and budgets. Members are elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council, usually for three-year terms.

5. UNICEF@Work (3) • UNICEF South Africa has its country office in Pretoria and conduct is operations nation wide from there (at a national and provincial level). • UNICEF South Africa has, with other UN Agencies, a basic cooperation agreement with Government of South Africa. • UNICEF agrees on an Annual Work Plan with the Department of Social Development on areas of support and collaboration

6. PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN MTSP Policy Advocacy and partnerships for children’s rights HIV & AIDS and Children Basic Education and Gender Equality Child Protection from violence, exploitation and abuse Young Child Survival and Development Health & Nutrition Social Transformation & Strategic Leveraging Education & Adolescent Development Protection and care of children against all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation PROGRAMME S Crosscutting Program Components External Relations Programme Communication Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Country Programme Structure

7. Orphans and vulnerable children • ISSUE: HIV and AIDS resulting in a growing number of orphans and vulnerable children. Currently 3.6 million orphans, many more living with sick or chronically ill parents • UNICEF ACTION: • UNICEF is strengthening DSD capacity to extend the reach of comprehensive community-based programmes for orphans and other vulnerable children. • In each province, UNICEF is assisting the DSD in ensuring that community childcare forums are reaching all of those children in need, that volunteers and caregivers are adequately trained, and that a comprehensive package of services is provided. • Children in dealing with trauma and grief are being assisted by enabling caregivers to provide the very best psychosocial care and to protect their legal rights in the event of their parents death. • Partnership with the Department of Home Affairs and the DSD a study that linked maternal ID numbers with children’s ID numbers on the population register to identify children remaining after mothers have died, which created data to establish the number if maternal orphans in the country.

8. Implementation of Children’s Act & Child Justice Act • ISSUE: Recent legislative reform sets the foundation of a comprehensive child protection system, but implementation requires support. 85%-90% of budget through DSD • UNICEF ACTION: • Publication of child friendly version of the Children’s Act • Costing and modeling of innovative provisions for cluster foster care • Supporting the transformation 375 children’s homes, shelters and places of safety into Child and Youth Care Centres as per new regulations • Developing national Guidelines for work with children in conflict with the law, and training of probation officers, assistant probation officers, and child and youth care workers

9. Preventing and responding to violence, abuse and exploitation • ISSUE: High incidence of child abuse, large numbers of children at risk. • UNICEF ACTION: • Strengthening services for victims of abuse through roll out of Thuthuzela Centres. • Strengthening systems for addressing large numbers of unaccompanied migrant children. • Supporting implementation of child protection action plans to respond to risks associated with the world cup. • Raising public awareness on child exploitation, abuse and trafficking.

10. Early Childhood Development • ISSUE: Babies and young children lack access to quality early learning and development opportunities. • UNICEF ACTION: • Support the DoSD in the implementation and roll-out of the national parenting programme. • Support DoSD with evidence and programmatic information in the support and roll-out of non centre based early childhood development programmes. • Support DoSD in their strategic leadership function towards the national integrated plan for early childhooddevelopment.

11. Social Policy • ISSUE: National and provincial policies to enhance the rights of children • UNICEF ACTION: • Impact evaluation of the CSG with DSD and SASSA • Support DSD and SASSA in strengthening social grants evidence based policy and operations • Finalise the Public Expenditure Tracking Survey (PETS) on ECD with DSD, DoBE and National Treasury. • Analyze the probable effects of policies/measures outlined in major policy statements on both money and non-money indicators of child well-being in South Africa. • A study on the Impact of the International Economic Crisis on Child Poverty in South Africa

12. Partnering with Parliament • Parliaments throughout the world have the power to create real and lasting change for children. They can allocate resources from national budgets, establish strong policy directions, and debate, shape and enforce laws that protect children. They can ask tough questions, demand answers and hold governments, industries and civil society accountable. When parliaments speak on behalf of children, their voices resonate. Parliaments are uniquely positioned to send the message that the well-being of children is the responsibility not just of people who work with children, but of all society.

13. Partnering with Parliament • On a global level, UNICEF works with the International Parliamentary Union • Regional partnership with the SADC secretariat on parliaments’ action plans and minimum standards for OVC • The majority of UNICEF’s parliamentary engagement is at the country level for support in law-making, oversight, budgeting and representation capacities to promote the rights of children. • Parliaments draw upon UNICEF for its: • - non-partisan mandate • - technical expertise and field presence • - convening power with government, civil society and media

14. Partnering with Parliament • UNICEF sees the Houses of Parliament (National Assembly and NCOP) as strategic and key partners in the advancement of the well-being of children in South Africa. • UNICEF sees parliament as a key partner and custodian for the rights of children in the country • UNICEF is looking forward in exploring possible ways in which it can support relevant Select Committees, Portfolio Committees and the parliament in general to advance its oversight, legislative and other functions, focusing on the rights of children and their voices to be heard. • Suggestions from the Portfolio Committee for Social Development will be valuable in taking our partnership and collaboration forward.

15. Partnering with Parliament: Resources • UNICEF/International Parliamentary Union Handbooks: • Child protection; Child trafficking; Violence against children; Analysing budgets for children… • UNICEF South Africa Resources: • In the Child’s Best Interest: Identifying priority issues that Parliamentary Portfolio and Select Committees should address • Reforming Child Law in South Africa: Budgeing and Implementation Planning • Children’s Act Explained • See www.unicef.org/southafrica

16. Closing Remark • We are 44,098 parliamentarians • globally. Can’t we do something • individually and collectively that • can change the lives of mothers • and children? We have the power. • We have the voice. Do we have • the courage? • Dr. Gertrude Mongella • President, Pan-African Parliament

17. THANK YOU