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Abstract
Family constitutes more than simple living arrangements, and these systems are of pivotal development importance in sub-Saharan Africa. The diversity of family structures and types in sub-Saharan Africa has warranted an examination of the various policies and laws in the region. This paper examines all policy and laws related to families in the South, West, East and Central regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The paper highlights the sundry of policies and laws that are influenced by cultural and religious differences within and across regions. Issues relating to patriarchy and…
A document containing the policy for foster care and adoption in Lesotho.
This document contains the Procedures and Practice Guidelines for Foster Care and Adoption in Lesotho. It is complementary to the country’s Foster Care and Adoption Policy, a framework meant to facilitate the smooth and effective implementation of Part VIII of the 2011 Children’s Protection and Welfare Act bearing the title ”Fosterage and Adoption”. These Procedures and Practice Guidelines are intended to create a common platform and also to ensure the highest ethical standards are practised in delivering these two forms of alternative care.
This Multisectoral National Strategy for Child Protection builds on a mapping and assessment of Lesotho’s current child protection system, which drew together many stakeholders to consider how best to move forward on child protection in a coordinated and sustainable way. The mapping and assessment highlighted strengths in communities and in services already being provided. It also highlighted the need for Lesotho to focus more on prevention of harm, on a coordinated response and on ensuring that Lesotho is more accountable for identifying, reporting and taking…
This document presents the Kingdom of Lesotho's National Multisectoral Child Protection Strategy 2014–2018 and a Costed Plan of Action for 2014-2016. The document is a more detailed operational document, setting out a road map for actions from July 2014 through to March 2017.
Child protection is the protection of boys and girls from 0-17 years from abuse, violence, exploitation and neglect and abandonment. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional or related to stigma, including disability and HIV-related stigma. Child protection violations can…
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The alternative care assessment examines the current social welfare systems and processes rather than on the specific quality of care in the various children’s homes as standards have already been developed.1 The report has been specifically prepared for the MoHSW with the support of UNICEF Lesotho. During the in country assessment, visits were made to Maseru District, Semonkong Community Council, Mafeteng, Quthing and Mohale’s Hoek.
The assessment report has been written using a transformative social protection framework2 adapted for studying the use of alternative…
The Minimum Package is a guide to encourage the harmonizing of service delivery for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children and Youth (OVCY) across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Member States can adopt or adapt these standards and guidelines at the national level. The Minimum Package identifies the basic needs of children and youth and the services they require as well as complementing services needed to deliver basic services. It also identifies the primary and secondary sectors and actors that can respond and how their services can be delivered in a coordinated,…
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The SADC region has an estimated 250 million people among the Member States. In each Member State more than 50% of the population is under the age of 18. These children need care, protection and support. Unfortunately for many, vulnerability does not end when they leave childhood. Many youth continue to be at risk. Poverty is endemic and employment scant. Many youth have limited training, are unable to find work, and potentially engage in risky coping strategies to survive. Certain groups are even more vulnerable. Young women aged 15-24 are three to four…
This study sought to assess, analyse and inform the different forms of vulnerabilities affecting children and youth, and their effects and existing strategies and programmes addressing the challenges and vulnerabilities facing orphans, vulnerable children and youth (OVCY) in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. The study also sought to propose recommendations for improvement, and development of minimum standards for OVCY and the finalisation of the SADC OVCY Strategic Framework.
As the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to be experienced most severely in Southern Africa, 14% of children are now orphans and 48% of these children have been orphaned due to AIDS. These children are often uninformed about their rights and have difficulty accessing the support to which they are entitled, particularly if they do not have the support of a parent or caregiver. This report reviews legal and policy frameworks to protect the rights of vulnerable children, particularly those affected or infected by HIV/AIDS in 10 Southern African countries. The countries included are:…