Launch of 2025 SA Child Gauge

The South African Child Gauge is the flagship research publication of the Children’s Institute, and the 2025 issue brought together over 70 researchers, policymakers and practitioners as chapter authors and case study authors. 

This 18th edition of the Child Gauge, with its focus on the intersections of violence against women and children, is edited by Lucy Jamieson (Children's Institute), Prof Shanaaz Mathews (UCT Health Sciences Faculty), Prof Mercilene Machisa (South African Medical Research Council) and Lori Lake (Children's Institute).

There is increasing global evidence that violence against women and violence against children are deeply interconnected. These forms of violence often co-occur in the same households, share common risk factors and are perpetuated by societal norms that legitimise or tolerate violence. 

Yet, South Africa’s programmes, research and policies on violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC) have historically been siloed – with different strategies, terminologies, and lead agencies. 

The findings of the South African Child Gauge 2025, released today, argue that South Africa must adopt an integrated approach to address the needs of both women and children affected by violence, and to break the intergenerational cycle of harm.

The Child Gauge 2025 highlights promising practices – such as gender-transformative programming – that can help promote healthier, non-violent relationships in families, schools and communities. It also identifies opportunities to strengthen systems by providing trauma-informed and family-centred services to prevent the intergenerational transmission of violence.

This year the foreword is written by Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, United Nations. 

The speakers at the launch included the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disability, Sindisiwe Chikunga.

The policy brief provides a summary of the key findings and recommendations of the full publication. An easy-to-read poster is also published alongside these.