Issued by: Office of the President
MESSAGE FROM NELSON MANDELA DELIVERED IN STOCKHOLM TODAY BY MINISTER OF WELFARE AND POPULATION DEVELOPMENT - GERALDINE FRASER-MOLEKETI
27 August 1996, Stockholm
I am honoured to address you today and join those giving urgent voice to the need to focus the world's attention on commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Our children are our most treasured asset. They are not ours to be used and abused, but to be loved and nurtured. Their well-being is ultimately the well-being of an entire nation.
Child sexual abuse is an abuse of power. As a country South Africa has experienced what the abuse of power can do to individuals, families and communities. That deep experience of hurt and oppression, and the knowledge of its long term consequences adds urgency to our determination not to permit our children to be damaged through abuse and exploitation.
Commercial and other forms of sexual exploitation, is one of the most disturbing forms of child abuse. It is not limited by race, ethnicity or economic boundaries. In South Africa, as part of our National Plan of Action for Children, government is paying particular attention to the abuse of children, including sexual, physical and mental abuse, pornography, and child exploitation.
As we approach these problems we do so with an understanding that poverty is a harsh reality throughout our African continent, our region, and our country.
As a contributory factor to sexual exploitation, poverty cannot be underestimated when we consider that young people are often forced to the streets to make a living, or parents sell their children sexually as a means of income.
South Africa will need to pay attention to poverty and other contributory factors in order to make progress towards the prevention and treatment of sexual exploitation and abuse.
This will involve legislative action to enhance the protection of children. It will include an increasing focus through a practical program on gender sensitivity and on the empowerment and protection of women and the girl child. And, in addition to a range of socio- economic programmes of reconstruction to address issues of poverty, our Welfare policy and programme is undergoing transformation. Early childhood development, youth development and comprehensive changes to our child and youth care system are key components of the process. The far-reaching changes South Africa is making to its Education system, both for children and adults, will also greatly assist in preventing and addressing the exploitation of children.
South Africa is proud to have signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and is currently working towards its full implementation through a comprehensive National Plan of Action of Children.
In days gone by, and possibly even today in many instances, the view has prevailed that children should "be seen and not heard". The time has come for our children to be seen, and to be very clearly heard. The cries of our abused and exploited children must no long fall on deaf ears or closed minds.
I commit my country and its resources toward ensuring that each day fewer children in our world, in each of our countries, are treated as insignificant objects to be traded, mangled and mocked. On behalf of myself and the Government of South Africa, I would like to convey our unequivocal support for the intentions and objectives of the congress, and pledge our willingness to take appropriate steps to implement the outcome of your deliberations.
Signed by: Nelson Mandela President Republic of South Africa