16 Days of Activism: SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa calling for an end to violations against women and children

Violence against women and children remains the most widespread and pervasive human rights violation worldwide affecting more than an estimated 1 in 3 women.

Research shows that worldwide, 27% of women and girls aged 15 and older have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence. In South Africa this figure is a shocking one-third or even up to 50%.

The 2022 theme is “Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment to build Women’s Resilience against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide: Connect, Collaborate, Contract!”

We call on government to implement law, policy and practice to create protective environments for women and children.

“Gender based violence impacts everyone. As an organisation that strives to achieve our vision where "every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security”, it is critical that we analyse and address gender inequalities and gender based violence experienced by girls, boys, women and men in all their diversities in our programmes, policies and structures,” says Vuyelwa Sineke: Global Gender Officer.

The Global Gender Officer at SOS Children’s Villages is responsible for gender parity initiatives, and fostering capacity development on gender mainstreaming. This role looks at lessons and good practices within the organisation, and to forge a networking partnership with other stakeholders dealing with gender mainstreaming.

At SOS Children’s Villages we offer, secure and loving care in a family setting, to children who have lost or are at risk of losing the care of their parents and cannot live with their biological family. It is our responsibility as an organisation to uphold and ensure our children are protected. We have Child Protection Policies and systems in place to ensure that we are able to protect children.

These policies outline behaviours and actions that are unacceptable, they provide guidelines on procedures to be followed, and reporting structures with trained and accredited Child Safeguarding investigators, whose work has resulted in an improved quality of care and improved safety for children in our care.

For more information on our work, and to support our Child Protection efforts, please go to https://www.sossouthafrica.org.za/

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About SOS Children’s Villages

SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights of South Africa’s marginalised children. We offer loving, family-like care for children and young people who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care. Established in 1984, SOS has eight Children’s Villages and three Social Centres across eight provinces.

Each year our Alternative Care, Family Strengthening and Youth Employability programmes provide life-changing support to children and families across the country.

The Alternative Care model comprises of four principles that include a mother (each child has a caring parent), brothers and sisters (the family ties grow naturally), a house (a secure place to grow up in) and a village (the SOS family is part of the community).

Our Family Strengthening Programme aims to enable children who are at risk of losing the care of their families to grow within a safe family environment. We work in co-operation with local authorities and other service providers to empower families and communities to effectively protect and care for their children.

For More Information

Go to https://www.sossouthafrica.org.za/

Contact: Seithuto Seakgwa

Seithuto.Seakgwa@sos.org.za

+27 (0) 79 122 3332

Issued by:

SOS Children’s Villages in South Africa