In 2008, a series of events in South Africa indicated the lingering difficulties in trying to build a “united” and reconciled, post-apartheid society. The incidents ranged from racist video clips to xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in townships. They provided the main motivation behind this research collaboration between the Children’s Institute and Princeton University.
Project 28 is a rights-based project that focuses on promoting the realisation of children’s socio-economic rights in South Africa. The project aims to seek clarity on the meaning of children’s socio-economic rights, particularly regarding the nature and extent of the government’s obligations to children.
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.
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 and in the context of HIV/AIDS. 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.