Children Count
Children Count was established to satisfy the need for regular and reliable statistics on the status of children. Using the best possible sources of information, including large national household surveys and administrative data, Children Count monitors progress for children through child-centred indicators linked to rights frameworks and policy goals. Trends in child demography and household arrangements, poverty and social protection, education, health, nutrition and living conditions are unpacked to reveal shifts in spatial, racial, gender and income inequality. The indicators are published annually on the interactive Children Count website and in the South African Child Gauge. They are used for shadow reports to human rights treaty bodies, are frequently cited in government’s strategy and planning documents, and are widely used in advocacy, research and teaching. Visit childrencount.uct.ac.za
South African Child Gauge
Each edition of our annual flagship publication, the South African Child Gauge, focuses on a specific theme, providing in-depth analysis of a key challenge facing children and drawing together the best evidence to inform policy and programmatic solutions. It includes a review of the latest law and policy reform affecting children, and a selection of child-centred indicators from our Children Count project.
Safe, Inclusive Participative Pedagogy (SIPP): Improving early childhood education
This exciting international research project aims to identify and develop safe, inclusive participative pedagogy that is implementable in fragile contexts and sustainable for governments, communities and families.
Group Care for the first 1,000 days
Group care during the first thousand days of life has been shown to transform the delivery of maternal, newborn and child health care and to reduce inequities in services utilisation, improve the quality of services, and make a significant positive impact on the health and wellbeing of mothers, families, and children.
Intersections of violence against women and violence against children
Connecting the dots – developing an understanding and response to the intersections between violence against women and violence against children
The International and Canadian Child Rights Partnership
Children and young people in South African enjoy a broad array of political rights but these are not always respected in practice. The academic literature on activism and social movements pays little attention to the contribution of children themselves to social and environmental justice. Children’s activism is ignored by researchers and adult organisers alike as it is considered too ‘soft’. A few studies are beginning to provide insights into how children and young people are redefining what citizenship means by engaging in activism in Europe, Latin America and Asia but children’s activism in Africa is under researched. We aim to promote child and youth activism by supporting children and youth to participate meaningfully in decision making processes that affect their rights to family or alternative care, education, and protection from abuse and neglect.
As part of an international research project, we are supporting four case studies that seek to understand how children and adults can work together to promote children’s rights. Three out of four of the case studies (Western Cape Child Commissioner child government monitors, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund's Legacy Academy and RX Radio) involve primary research. In the first half of 2024 we will host protocol design workshops to allow children and young people to shape the participatory action research. In mid-2025 research groups will be invited to share preliminary findings through photovoice/ podcasts or story maps at a festival of activism.
Child Rights and Child Law for Health and Allied Professionals
This accredited five-day course provides cutting-edge education in child rights and child law for health and allied professionals – including up-to-date training on consent to medical treatment and the reporting of child abuse and neglect as outlined in the Children’s Act. It examines the relationship between children’s rights and child health and aims to equip health and allied professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to realise children’s rights in their daily practice.
Social assistance for orphaned children living with relatives
Over the past 10 years, a diverse set of problems have been documented about the widespread use of the foster care system to provide financial assistance to the country’s increasing number of orphans, the majority of whom are living with relatives. Children’s Institute socio-legal research and consultations with government and practitioners are aimed at finding clarity and proposing solutions that are in the best interests of all affected children.
Social security – towards comprehensive protection for children
The Children’s Institute since 2001 has contributed to research and advocacy on new policies on social security for children. Research to date has focused on elements of the social security system particularly pertaining to children living in poverty. The aim is to advocate for the improvement of the social security system in South Africa to ensure that the right to social assistance is realised for all children.