Issued by: Ministry of Social Development
21 March 2001
The Minister of Social Development Dr Zola Skweyiya and the various stakeholders in the social development sector have agreed to work closely together and to give priority attention to accelerating transformation of policy and programmes that relate to issues of the elderly, women and children.
"The problem of abuse of women, children and the elderly is very serious and some of the policies and programmes within the welfare sector currently prevailing, are not adequately responsive to this reality. This matter will have to be addressed with extreme urgency. This is imperative in order to ensure that Human Rights enshrined in the constitution, are translated into reality," said the Minister.
The Minister said this following the one-day Consultative Workshop which was held in Pretoria yesterday between the Department of Social Development and over 200 representatives of the private sector, labour, civics, the NGO's, Community Based Organisations and Faith-Based Organisations.
The Consultative Workshop welcome the Minister's call for the review of all the laws in the welfare sector and that the Law Commission should accelerate the transformation of legislation on children.
"The change of the legislation on children and improvement and acceleration of the process of implementing the financing policy on welfare services are critical if we are deliver services effectively and efficiently, to the poorest of the poor," concluded the Minister.
The workshop also agreed that the stakeholders should work closer and form partnerships on poverty alleviation; the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as involve the local government. Meanwhile, Minister Skweyiya left for a three-day official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany last night to start discussions on co-operative development between the two peoples.
On his return the Minister will release a Report of the Committee of Inquiry into Abuse, Neglect and Ill-treatment of Elderly Persons, which will take place on the 26th March 2001.
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