Children's Institute annual report 2007/2008 This annual report contains a special feature: A set of reflective essays that trace the development of the Institute’s distinctive approach to socially responsive research and public engage- ment. The essays are “Participating in law-making processes: Experiences of the Children’s Bill”; “Litigating for a better deal”; “Children Count: Using child-centred data to monitor the realisation of children’s socio-economic rights in South Africa”; “Making a case for children’s right to social services”; and “The making of the South African Child Gauge: A reflection on the first three years”. We also present some selected observations on the activities of the Institute by the chairpersons of our Governing Board and International Board of Advisors.
Legal guide to age thresholds for children Various laws stipulate the ages that children can legally make decisions, such as signing a contract, accessing social grants or housing subsidies, or consent to medical treatment, adoption, etc. Some of these laws are currently being
re-written and will change the various age thresholds. This legal guide, produced in partnership with the Centre for Child Law, University of Pretoria, provides information on the current laws, and proposed reforms. It is an update to the ‘Ages Fact Sheet’ which the Children’s Institute produced in 2006.
South African Child Gauge 2007/2008 'Children’s right to social services' is the 2007/2008 theme of this
popular annual review of the situation of children in South Africa. The
Children’s Act (as amended) is the primary law that is aimed at giving
effect to this right. The South African Child Gauge 2007/2008 provides
in-depth information on some of the pioneering aspects of the new law
and the budgetary and human resource challenges that need attention
to enable maximum impact for vulnerable children. It also contains an
update on legislative and policy developments pertaining to child rights,
and provides updated statistics on the demo- graphics of children in
South Africa and their access to a range of socio-economic entitlements.
Champions for Children Handbook: How to build a caring school community
This handbook is a guide to mobilising schools and neighbour- hoods around the well-being and needs of children to create caring school communities. It was developed through action research in four school
communities in the Western Cape and the Free State. The work was done in partnership with the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union, and in collaboration with other organisations, including the Caring Schools Network (CASNET). The handbook is available in hard copy or
CD-ROM to communities who would like to participate in the research.
The Children’s Institute, University of Cape Town, aims to contribute to policies, laws and
interventions that promote equality and realise
the rights and improve the conditions
of
all children in South Africa,
through research, advocacy, education and technical support.
