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Th
e United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) has welcomed President Thabo Mbeki's signing into law of the Children's Amendment Act.
"[It] is a comprehensive piece of legislation that is in line with provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child," Unicef's representative in South Africa, Macharia Kamau, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The new act also contributed to the fulfilment of South Africa's own constitutional commitments to realise children's right to access social services.
Kamau commended South Africa for what he called its leadership role in crafting legislation and policies aimed at protecting and preserving the well-being of children.
"UNICEF stressed, however, that major implementation challenges remain in translating the act into concrete actions to improve the care and protection of South Africa's children.
"Foremost amongst these, the State will need to ensure adequate and better targeted budgetary allocations at national and provincial levels."
The role of non-governmental and community-based organisations in the delivery of services to children was of vital importance, and collaboration with them should be better financed and supported, he said.
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