Interpreting the Child’s Right to Protection from Violence in the South African Context in Line with International Law Obligations

Abstract This article considers whether the South African government is currently meeting its obligations under international law to take appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect children from all forms of violence. Research has consistently demonstrated that exposure to violence at a young age can have an immense negative impact on children’s survival and future development. Accordingly, adopting and implementing effective measures to eliminate violence against children is a pressing concern, especially in the South African context. With these objectives in mind, this article evaluates the South African Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and the National Childcare and Protection Policy 2021, in light of the obligations contained in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, with a focus on prevention and early intervention strategies.