How can you practically empower yourself, or the women and children you know, during this year’s 16 days of Activism? The Mail & Guardian‘s “HOW TO” guide will tackle a different area each day, including suing for maintenance, applying for a social grant and getting an interdict against an abusive partner.

How to: find a place of safety for a child

The Children’s Charter states that all children (under the age of 18) have the right to protection from abuse, violence (physical, emotional, verbal, psychological, sexual, state, political, gang, domestic, school, township and community, street, racial, self-destructive and all other forms of violence) and neglect. Children also have the right to be housed, clothed and fed. To this end, there are places of safety throughout South Africa, where children can be looked after when this protection and care cannot be guaranteed in the home environment.

Places of safety can take the form of community-based centres, or families who operate within a network. These place house and care for abandoned children, orphans, children who have been removed from their parents for their safety (where abuse, neglect, or substance abuse is suspected), and children whose home lives have been disrupted by community-based violence.

Children who have been in conflict with the law may also be placed in a place of safety for rehabilitation, if it is felt that returning that child to their community is not in the best interests of the child.

A child may be in a place of safety temporarily, but many children remain until they are 18.

The easiest way to place a child in need in a place of safety is to call Lifeline (0861 322 322)
or Childline (08000 55555), Calling either of these numbers will give you access to a network of counsellors and social workers who can assess whether a place of safety is necessary, and make relevant arrangements.

They can also direct you to the nearest and most suitable location.

Find out more on adopting or fostering a child. Look at our list of “HOW TO” guides for more information here.

View more on our special report on 16 days of activism here:.