Submitted by: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

Categories: Human Rights, Corporate Social Responsibility

Posted: Jun 14, 2011 – 08:56 AM EST

GENEVA, Jun. 14 /CSRwire/ – Today the non-profit Business & Human Rights Resource Centre launched an online portal on “Business & Children.”

The portal provides up-to-date information on the many ways that companies impact children’s rights. Issues covered range from child labour to workplace parental leave; from sexual exploitation to education. Each topic includes a concise introduction followed by examples of positive initiatives companies are taking, allegations of abuses, and company responses. (more…)

By Malou Guanzon-Apalisok
Cebu Daily News
8:52 am | Monday, June 13th, 2011 0share5The arrest and prosecution of a couple who used their own children to engage in cyber pornography have caused a lot of apprehension among the population. However, more than the active participation of the Cordova couple in offering their children to on line sex predators, it is the disclosure of the mother and her 15-year-old son that is equally appalling.

According to the young man, his parents learned about the pornographic trade from their neighbor. During initial investigation, the mother told policemen she took up cybersex as a means of livelihood because she knew people who were also doing it. Fr. Alvin Lao, who tends the San Roque Parish said he heard about cybersex operations in homes since being assigned in Cordova six years ago. Fr. Lao said local church and lay leaders tried to discuss the problem with local officials but nothing came out of it. (more…)

Going all out for a great cause
Raising funds for victims of human trafficking
Jun 13, 2011 12:23 AM | By HARRIET MCLEA

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In a bid to raise funds for an organisation that fights human trafficking, Not For Sale, a South African woman will compete in a gruelling 27-hour triathlon in the US.

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MIND OVER PAIN: South African triathlete Paula Heron
She will start the Tri4Freedom fund-raiser with a two-and-a-half hour swim on Saturday morning. (more…)

Legal eagles share knowledge with the youth

Advocate Nandy Moodley, Adv Ansuya Harilall, Adv Amy Kistnasamy, Adv Omashni Naidoo with Nzwandile Ndlovu site co-ordinator of Thuthuzela.

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions hosted a youth outreach programme on June 1 at the Stanger Town Hall in celebration of ‘youth month’.
The event, which was attended by more than 300 children, was as entertaining as it was educational.

Programme director Mzozi Mthembu from the Soul City/Soul Buddyz programme was the lively link between the items, making the entire audience, presenters included, dance, shout, clap and ‘stare lovingly into each others eyes,’ to brighten the mood.

During the programme, a young poet read his poem about the evils of the popular drug, ‘Whoonga,’ saying that it is a death threat to the community, the spirit and the child.

Advocacy manager for Women and Men Against Child Abuse and the KZN task team representative for human trafficking, alerted children to the ways in which abuse and trafficking can occur.

Professionals addressed other topics, including juveniles in conflict with the law, and the skills needed to stay safe. The children also watched a Zero to Hero presentation, and a short play about rape.

Chief prosecutor from Pinetown, Adv Amy Kistmasamy, said that the purpose of the day was to celebrate youth and to reinforce their rights, as they would be running this country in the near future. She said that a lot had been put in place to support today’s youth, particularly in the courts.

“We used to concentrate mainly on prosecuting and didn’t have the option of doing the softer things, and now we are more victim-centred.”

She said that sexual offence prosecutors are now trained to deal with abuse cases, and victims are offered an intermediary for court, or can participate from a room adjacent to the court where necessary.

Adv Kistmasamy also introduced the one stop rape facility, the Thuthuzela Centre at Stanger Hospital, to those who did not yet know about it.

The programme brought tears and laughter to the audience, made up mainly from pupils chosen from schools in KZN.

If you know or suspect child trafficking is taking place contact this free number 0800 555 999. Anonymous calls will be accepted.

All about Thuthuzela

Thuthuzela (the Xhosa word for ‘comfort’), the one-stop rape centre at the Stanger Hospital, opened last year to embrace and support rape victims in their greatest time of need.

On arrival at the centre first and formost, victims are welcomed and comforted. The medical examination is then explained to them and a consent form is signed. After the exam they are offered shower facilities and where possible, comfort bags, which include underwear and basic toiletries.

Immediate and follow up counselling is offered, follow-up visits are scheduled and treatment and medication are provided for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and infections.

Only at this point is an investigating police officer called in to take a statement and open a case, which is done with a centre worker present if desired. The centre also helps the victim prepare for court.

Prior to the opening of the centre, rape victims had to first report to a police station. In many cases they would have to wait in the charge office for the family and child protection unit (FCPU) to arrive (where there is such a unit). Once their statement had been taken and a case opened, the patient would only then be taken to the Trauma Unit at Stanger Hospital where they very often had to wait in a queue for between four and fifteen hours.

Head of the centre Dr Shivani Chirkut stresses that there is no rush at the centre.

“Don’t be afraid, we are centred on you, while you are with us you are the only thing that we see and hear and it will take as long as it takes.”

Make a difference

The Night Owls, the Sheffield Beach quilting group, have already supplied 100 comfort bags to the Thuthuzela Centre, but as the need is ongoing, they need the community’s support.

The Night Owls make and take in bags from sewing groups and individuals who donate drawstring bags and handbags. The ladies fill the bags with donations of underwear, a face cloth, a small jar of Vaseline or Savlon, a small container of talcum powder, toothbrush and paste, soap, tissues, wet wipes and a small hand towel. Into the children’s bags a small, soft teddy, (knitted, sewn or bought) is also added. The hospital provides sanitary towels and baby nappies.

The biggest need they say is for comfort bags for children of both genders from the ages of five to 15 years. If you are able to help in any way please contact Melanie Meyer on 032-946 2370 or email melanie@meyerassociates.co.za.

The centre is also short of clothes, as rape survivors have to hand their clothing in as evidence. There is a need for teenage and adult size clothing and, in particular, clothing for girls between the ages of three and 10. Clothes can be dropped off at the centre in Stanger Hospital, or at Alberlito Hospital with coordinator Karishma Singh.

Published on June 8, 2011 at 2:55 pm

Child porn, rape case delayed
June 10 2011 at 09:47am
By Yolande du Preez

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INLSA

The accused in the child porn case leaving the Pretoria North Magistrate’s court after a brief apperance. Picture: Phill Magakoe

With their heads bowed, nine family members who are accused of being involved in a child pornography ring and who have been in custody since their arrest in December last year, briefly appeared in the Pretoria North Regional court on Thursday.

Shivering from the cold, the women arrived minutes after the men as they were led up from separate holding cells.

Defence counsels, Legal Aid lawyer Hein Combrink, representing four of the accused, and JJ Van Zyl, representing the remaining accused, requested that the case be postponed.

During a hearing in May, problems arose with the legal representation for some of the accused, and Combrink explained to the court that there could be a conflict of interests.

This meant that the Legal Aid Board would have to appoint more lawyers to represent some of the accused. He said he still had to go through some of the paperwork.

The family, which includes the alleged victims’ grandparents, the grandfather’s brother and his wife and children of the two couples, face 23 preliminary charges.

These include rape, compelled rape – which means that one person is forced to rape another – grooming, and using children to produce child porn.

Eight of the nine accused were arrested early in December last year, after two of the children, who had been in the foster care of the grandparents, made the allegations.

A ninth suspect, who is the daughter of the grandfather and wife of one of the suspects, was arrested later.

The State did not object to the request, but made it clear that they were ready to proceed with the case and that their witnesses were in place.

Magistrate Pieter Nel said the case would continue on a day-to-day basis during the weeks of December 1 to 9 and January 16 to 27, 2012.

The accused will remain in custody.

Their children and grandchildren have been removed from their care. – Pretoria News

Accueil Africa news Society: World Day Against Child Labour
Society: World Day Against Child Labour
News – Africa news .South Africa’s Forgotten Children – The theme for this year’s World Day Against Child Labour is “Caution! Children in Hazardous Work”. The 12 June global event will attempt to shine a spotlight on the most exploitative and harmful forms of child labour, many which occur in South Africa. Evidence of the active movement to protect children and end child labour can be seen in the large number of International Labour Organization (ILO) policies and other legislation enacted over the past decade. All this, however, has still not been enough to halt the exploitation of children in the Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) category. South Africa recognises three types of WFCL: the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), Children Used by Adults and other children to commit Crimes (CUBAC) and travelling long distances to fetch and carry water.

Another type of WFCL in South Africa is debt bondage. This means children work without compensation or freedom of movement in order to pay off alleged accumulated debts for food, shelter and transport.

All these forms of child labour are harmful to a child’s physical, psychological, moral and social development. They are all also (save fetching water), incredibly difficult to track and monitor.

South Africa’s Department of Labour (DoL) has over the years risen to the task of tackling these issues by making amendments to labour legislation to include the criminalisation of child labour and regulating work done by those less than 15 years of age.

However, the DoL’s work has been limited to the formal economic sectors and does not necessarily deal with instances of the WFCL.

This role should fall under the Department of Social Development, which currently has a deficit of thousands of social workers nationally. Worse, there are few shelters to accommodate adolescent victims of exploitation and trafficking, especially older children who have been sexually trafficked, as well as those who are transgendered, HIV positive or drug users.

There are many gaps but one of the worst is the widespread lack of knowledge and understanding of child labour and that it is a crime. Many see it as a foreign idea, something which is not an issue in South Africa.

Those who need to join the fight and raise awareness are not limited to government, police and civil society. We all have a role to play in ending child labour.

But this is easier said than done. There are currently few recent national statistics concerning child labour, let alone its worst forms.

Back in 1999 Statistics South Africa conducted a household Survey of the Activities of Young People (SAYP). It found that out of 14.4 million children between five and 17 years, more than 3.3 million were working in commercial agriculture, subsistence farming, manufacturing, construction, trade, transport, informal finance and services (which includes domestic work).

Of this total, 247 900 children were found to be in the WFCL. But this figure is considered by many to be a gross underestimation of the actual number of children involved in exploitative labour because the survey was limited to children within households and did not include the large number of children who live and work on the streets. This includes thousands of young girls forced into sex work.

It is these most vulnerable children who often fall prey to exploitation.

This lack of statistics does not mean the problem has decreased. And despite the huge numbers of affected children, there are few organisations in South Africa that deal specifically with child labour and little funding is available.

This is partly due to the fact that when the Millennium Development Goals were drawn up, child labour was overlooked. However it directly impacts several of the MDGs, including in the quest for universal primary education.

The hours children spend daily travelling long distances to fetch water in rural areas means this goal will not be achieved until child labour issues are addressed.

A 2006 Human Sciences Research Council study found that children as young as five are walking as far as 3.7 kilometres every day which means they get to school late or are unable to attend altogether. One girl child interviewed said: “Sometimes you are so late that you find yourself coming to school without washing. We girls are not comfortable at all coming to school without washing.”

Policies and legislation in most spheres need to begin addressing these issues with the seriousness they deserve. We need to pressure governments (and one another) to better understand the problem of child labour. South Africa can’t continue leaving these forgotten children behind.

Doreen Gaura is the Anti Child Labour Programme Coordinator at Activists Networking Against the Exploitation of Children. This article is part of the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service.

Doreen Gaura

Gender Links/10/06/2011

VN, South Africa boost security cooperation
The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the South African Ministry of Police have signed an agreement on strengthening their cooperation, especially in preventing organised and transnational crimes and wildlife smuggling.

Africa Day celebrated in Vietnam

The agreement was reached during a visit to South Africa from June 5-8 by a delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) led by Minister Le Hong Anh.

During the four-day visit, Minister Anh held talks with Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa and Minister of National Security Siyabonga Cwele of South Africa.

The Vietnamese minister spoke highly of effective cooperation between the MPS and the two South African ministries, expressing his belief that the two sides would expand their cooperation in the future.

He congratulated South Africa on its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2011-2012 and as an official member of the group of emerging economies (BRIC).

South African Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa highly valued Vietnam’s role and position in the international arena as well as its achievements during the renewal process.

He wished to further boost cooperation between the two ministries in preventing transnational and organised crime, including money laundering, drug and human trafficking, and the smuggling of wildlife, especially rhino.

VNA/VOVNews

The dumbing down of our youth
Rhoda Kadalie
08 June 2011

Rhoda Kadalie says the ANC’s gravest error was to mistake change for progress

The ANC has failed South Africa’s youth.

Its Youth League is more concerned about the conspicuous consumption and instant wealth of its leader, Julius Malema, than pressurising government to address the needs of the youth. A month ago I spoke at a university graduation. The comment that received the most applause was my advice to students not to let “Julius Malema derail them from achieving their dreams.”

The fear that he will become president one day is deep, and thousands of young people are tired of having him thrust down their throats. The sooner the ANC refrains from using its youth leaders as pawns in their political games, the better for all of us.

It should, instead, invest energy and resources in the holistic development of young people to prepare them for a better future. In the meantime, our white counterparts are continuing on an upward trajectory, getting on with life, educating their children, creating platforms for them to excel in sports and the arts, and sending them abroad when there is no work for them here.

I see how they excel in the orchestras, the eisteddfods, at public speaking, classical music and maths and science competitions.

Black SA, on the other hand, is on the decline. And Parliament, as the body that represents us, is itself a display of mental vacuity. The inanity of public discourse seems almost deliberate and the youth has become a casualty of the national “dumbing down” process.

The South African Institute of Race Relations’ Fast Facts (May 2011) reveals a picture that is grim and bears repeating. Teenage pregnancies are rife and resulted in some 50 000 of school girls dropping out of school in 2007 – a 151% increase since 2005.

Equally alarming is the result of a survey conducted in KwaZulu Natal of 14 – 22 year-olds which revealed that 54% of young men left school because of fathering a child. “Girls aged 17 – 19 account for 93% of pregnancies among 15 – 19 year olds and research cited by LoveLife has suggested that teen pregnancy is much more likely to occur after school drop out.” “… Abortions among under-18 year olds rose by 124% from 4 432 in 2001 to 9 895 in 2006.”

Poor education results add fuel to the fire. Of the one million students who enrolled in grade 10 in 2007, 51% wrote the matriculation exams. Of those 31% passed grade 12 in 2009, and only 10% shockingly gained matriculation exemptions.

On average 17% of 16-18 year olds were not in school in 2006. University throughput rates are no better. Of 138 000 students who enrolled at university in 2002, 52% gave up while 15% were still studying after five years.

SA’s dysfunctional school system and poor university throughput rates explain the high unemployment rates amongst the youth. In 2009 48% of SA’s of 15 – 24 year olds were unemployed; by 2010 unemployment in that group increased to 51%. Some 3.3 million are not in employment, education, or training.

This bleak scenario coexists with high rates of HIV, sexual assault, rape and crime, and dysfunctional families, where fathers are mostly absent and mothers and grandmothers bear the brunt of child rearing. With 36% of the entire prison population aged 25 and under, the future looks bleak indeed.

The ANC’s magnificent victory over apartheid paved the way for it to undo the carnage that the group areas act, forced removals, relocation and resettlement wreaked on black families. Dominated by an educated black male leadership, the Party was uniquely placed to create role models for young black men by adopting policies and programmes to heal family dysfunction caused by the past.

Had they roped in religious and civil society organisations to help them rebuild families, nurture parental responsibility and build social capital amongst communities, at the inception of our democracy, SA today would have been a better place. Safe sex campaigns should have accompanied campaigns about safe relationships, mutual respect, love and compassion.

Instead, the ANC’s gravest error was to mistake change for progress. It has reneged on one of its most important functions – nation-building. We are sitting on a time bomb and unless we act fast, society will unravel. To quote John Kerry: “…it is time for those who talk about family values to start valuing families.”

This article first appeared in Die Burger.

Govt gets tough on rapists, abusers
6/7/2011 2:47:18 PM
Cape Town – The Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities has appealed to courts across the country to deny bail for suspects charged with the rape and murder of women and children, Minister Lulu Xingwana said on Tuesday.

“Rapists and perpetrators of violence against women and children have no place in our society. Hence we are calling upon our courts to deny bail for suspects charged with rape and murder of women and children,” Xingwana said during debate on her budget vote speech in the National Assembly.

She said women and children continued to be “ravaged” by the scourge of violence, including rape and murder.

Extra measures

“Every day, we receive reports of horrendous attacks on children and women, including the rape and murder of lesbian women in the so-called corrective rape.”

Xingwana said gender based violence had a severe and long-lasting impact on victims, including serious mental health problems and the risk of subsequent victimisation; gynaecological complications, unwanted pregnancies, HIV infection; serious physical injuries or disability and death.

She said the numbers and severity of cases required the government to take extra measures to reverse the tide of violence against women and children.

An Advisory Council on Violence against Women and Children would be established to deal with some of these issues.

The South African Police Service had also strengthened its capacity to deal with these cases.

Empowering victims

Family violence, child protection and sexual offences units had been established in all 176 policing areas.

Forensic social workers had been hired to assist child victims and to submit evidence necessary to support conviction.

At least 28 Thuthuzela Care Centres had been established in areas with high incidents of violence against women and children.

Xingwana said the department would also promote the Domestic Violence Act to empower victims of violence and communities to use it to prevent cases of abuse.

“We will be mobilising women to ensure that they do not withdraw cases of abuse but allow the law to take its course.”

10:39am UK, Monday June 06, 2011

A raft of measures to protect children from ‘sexualisation’ are set to be unveiled, as retailers agree to restrict the sale of inappropriate clothing to youngsters.

Mothers’ Union chief executive Reg Bailey will publish his recommendations in a Government-commissioned review later.

The British Retail Consortium has also launched new guidelines in response to demands for restrictions on inappropriate children’s clothing – including lace lingerie and push-up bras.

Nine stores – Asda, Debenhams, Argos, John Lewis, Next, Marks & Spencer, Peacocks Sainsbury’s and Tesco – have signed up, with others being urged to participate.

David Cameron has backed moves to make it easier to block adult content on mobile phones, ban raunchy billboard posters near schools and bar the use of youngsters to market products.

Regulators, businesses and broadcasters should do more to connect with parents – it’s not enough for them to work out what is acceptable from what people complain about afterwards.

Report author Reg Bailey
And he said he would summon retailers, advertisers, broadcasters, magazine editors, video games and music industry chiefs and regulators for a summit in October to discuss progress.

Under the changes proposed by Mr Bailey, steamy pop videos would be restricted to older teens and later television slots while magazines featuring sexualised images would be covered up on shop shelves.

An option to request adult material be barred from any new home internet service, laptop or mobile phone should also be introduced and parents given more say in the TV watershed guidelines.

Mr Bailey said he hoped his review would help tear down the sexual “wallpaper” surrounding today’s young people and give parents a stronger voice in regulation.

Mumsnet: Guidelines Must Have Teeth
Welcoming the report, Mr Cameron told him in a letter that it represented “a giant step forward for protecting childhood and making Britain more family-friendly”.

While ministers would examine the recommendations, most required action from business and regulators who would have to be held to account “in a transparent way”, he said.

Mr Cameron said he was particularly keen to see rapid progress on a centralised online tool for parents to report inappropriate material or products.

“This not only seems entirely sensible, but also relatively easy and simple to introduce,” he added.

David Cameron has backed moves to block content on mobile phones

“I see no reason why the website cannot be up and running in good time to get feedback from parents for our October meeting.”

The six-month review took evidence from more than 2,000 parents and 500 young people as well as 120 separate organisations.

Mr Bailey said: “Regulators, businesses and broadcasters should do more to connect with parents – it’s not enough for them to work out what is acceptable from what people complain about afterwards.

“I hope that they see that it’s good business if you look out for families. Then we can all help to make Britain a more family friendly place.”

SkyNews