"Child Protection Week should shift focus to adult responsibility"
Childline believes this year's Child Protection Week should focus on the responsibility borne by parents to keep children safe.
Childline's National Executive Officer Dumisile Nala says everyone has a role to play to keep children safe, including politicians, government, the private sector, religious groups and extended families.
"How do we expect a 6-month-old baby or a 3-year-old toddler to protect themselves?," she says.
Nala has given five top tips that parents can practice in order to protect children in this week.
1) Parents having a good relationship with their children,
2. Proper and appropriate supervision at all times.
3. Talk to your child about their bodies.
4. Impact of emotional abuse. (self-esteem)
5. Guidance
"We should be challenging all citizens who love their country to think about how safe, loved or children are both in our families and in the communities," Nala says.
Nala has also provided a few tips of what children need to do to keep safe.
This week marks the annual Child Protection week in South Africa which will run from 28 May to 4 June 2017 and aims to raise awareness for the rights of children.
Shocking statistics reveal that one in five children in the country fall victim to physical, sexual or emotional abuse before their 18th birthday.