International Day for Families

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15 May 2025 is recognised globally as International Day for Families. The Minister of the Department of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, is in Cape Town to commemorate the day. She is expected to also promote Child Protection Month, which falls in May.

Spokesperson for DSD, Lumka Oliphant, said the program today aims to bring a focus on the importance of families. She stressed that families serve as the first line of defence in the protection of children.

Oliphant said, “Child protection is a shared responsibility. Parents, caregivers and the entire community play an important role and can contribute to creating a safe environment for children”.

DSD programme gets facelift

Minister Tolashe is also expected to launch the Revised White Paper on Families and the Families Matter Programme, which highlights the care and protection of children.

The first White Paper was introduced in June 2013, after DSD realised that there was a dire need to promote the strengthening of families in South Africa. It was also proposed to provide support to existing families.

Oliphant said this year’s commemoration seeks to highlight the importance of supporting and strengthening families. DSD has centered the day around the theme, ‘Family-oriented Policies for Sustainable Development: Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development 2025’.

“The UN Convention on Rights of the Child clearly states the role of the family towards child protection and it further mandates government to step in, if families are unable to do so“, said Oliphant.

“Current family-centered interventions such as positive parenting, family matter, and the social assistance programmes seek to ensure that families have the necessary resources and support that protect children and strengthen families”, Oliphant continued.

UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Violence Against Children, Dr Najat Maalla M’jid, is currently in South Africa. Her visit coincides with Child Protection Month. Dr M’jid is here to monitor progress on South Africa’s programs to end violence against children.