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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · 6d

The editorial team was led by our Director, A/Prof Wiedaad Slemming, supported by an advisory committee that included national & global thought leaders, & reps from govt depts of Health & Basic Education, & the National Planning Commission, to ensure our thinking was informed by policymakers’ needs.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · 6d

Reflections on South African #ChildGauge2024: Enhancing ECD.
A year ago, we released the 17th edition of our Child Gauge, bringing together over 50 contributors from across the country to track progress since the inception of the National Integrated #ECD Policy in 2015 and set an agenda for 2030.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · 23d

📚 Read the Child Gauge, policy brief, poster and family resource 🔗 bit.ly/4fV4C5y The 17th Child Gauge issue was published with UNICEF SA; the DSI-NRF Centre for Excellence in Human Development, University of the Witwatersrand; the Standard Bank Tutuwa Community Foundation and The LEGO Foundation.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · 23d

Investment in #ECD matters for lifelong health, education & employment prospects. To break free from intergenerational cycles of poverty, violence & ill-health, & boost national development, South Africa must focus efforts on the sensitive early childhood period for investment to be most effective.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · 23d

The 2024 South African Child Gauge focuses on early childhood development – from conception until the start of formal school. At a time when South Africa is seeking solutions to complex societal challenges, the findings of #ChildGauge2024 remind us that the answers lie in early childhood.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · 23d

Created in partnership with @unicef.org South Africa, the booklet guides readers on what young children need to thrive, the different phases of development, and navigating needs for extra care and support. The publication also informs parents and caregivers on the services that they are entitled to.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · 23d

Resource for parents & caregivers on ECD ❤️🧠🩺 Drawing on the findings of our 2024 South African Child Gauge, we've created a short and easy to read guide for families on #ECD. It aims to help families better understand & support development of young children, right from pregnancy.
🔗 bit.ly/4fV4C5y

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 3

We were represented by EE Law Centre as a friend of the court, in litigation by two parents, Centre for Child Law & SECTION27. We put forward evidence on the need to use corrective measures for educators & a child-centred approach to educators' discipline.
#EndCorporalPunishment #ChildProtection

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 3

Major changes to the sanctions include:
- A requirement to hear from children & caregivers before deciding on the sanction
- Rehabilitative sanctions: teachers must undergo retraining before returning to the classroom, in order to control their own anger & manage discipline through non-violent means

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 3

In case you missed it: Supreme Court of Appeal ordered SA Council for Educators to redraft its mandatory sanctions policy related to #corporalpunishment, in consultation with us & @upchildlaw.bsky.social. Our @lucycpt.bsky.social spoke to News24 & Cape Talk on this
📻 bit.ly/47q4gSN
📰 bit.ly/4ngWmQy

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 3

Yet we are mindful that these systems are constantly in flux and it is important to reassess and recalibrate our strategies and alliances - both locally and globally - in a world where science and the #humanrights order are increasingly under threat.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 3

These tools help make visible ways in which transnational corporate power has hampered efforts to introduce policies that prevent diet-related non-communicable diseases in South Africa.
@marshaorgill.bsky.social @lori-lake.bsky.social

#Policy
#NonCommunicableDisease
#Health

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Sep 3

New commentary💡As part of our work on #commercialdeterminants of health, we reflect on Milson et al’s work & how their systems thinking & causal loop diagrams can deepen understanding – and responses to – commercial determinants. International Journal of Health Policy & Management 🔓🔗 bit.ly/4g8NDNO

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 12

Symposium chair @lori-lake.bsky.social, who is also the Children’s Institute's Comms & Education Specialist, reflects: “Dr Sooliman reminded us how our work with children & families needs to be rooted in love, care & compassion. The gift of hope gives us all the strength to care, connect & rebuild”.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 12

Survivors would express to the Gift of the Givers team: “We are broken, but you treat us with dignity. Even if you have nothing to give, your attitude makes us feel better”.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 12

Through stories of working with families devastated by war or natural disasters, Dr Sooliman emphasised that kindness, love, and respect transcend language and cultural barriers.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 12

Dr Sooliman expressed that attitude is the most critical element in a crisis. “You can be the greatest professional,” he said, “but if you break a person, you will never heal them again… The most important thing in a disaster is your conduct, how you show love, your ethics, and your compassion.”

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 12

Hosted by the Advocacy Committee of the Paediatrics Department, the symposium saw Dr Sooliman draw on decades of humanitarian work to respond to the question: What does a child-centred emergency response look like, and how can we integrate this thinking and practice into our work as a Department?

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Aug 12

Advocacy symposium: Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, spoke powerfully on how paediatricians can respond to children in crisis, at a recent advocacy symposium of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Jul 30

Policy briefs 💡 📄 ⚙️ How should #streetyouth be supported to be resilient? The 2REST research project recognises that social, institutional and physical environment factors are key to #resilience (multisystemic resilience). Read our recommendations in new policy briefs 🔗 ci.uct.ac.za/articles/202...

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Reposted by Children's Institute, University of Cape Town

UNICEF @unicef.org · Jul 29

Gaza faces the severe risk of famine as food consumption and nutrition indicators have reached their worst levels since the conflict began.

Read more: unicef.link/3HaUx85

Over 500,000 people – nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population – are enduring famine-like conditions, while the remaining population is facing emergency levels of hunger.

Time is running out to mount a full-scale humanitarian response.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Jul 25

In case you missed it: As our @lori-lake.bsky.social explains, this article she co-wrote highlights how formula milk companies target health professionals - offering gifts of sponsorship to up sales. It calls for severing ties with industry to eliminate conflicts of interest #NoSuchThingAsAFreeLunch

Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Jul 3

New journal article 💡 As part of our work on commercial determinants of child health we've co-written this on the urgent need to end sponsorship of healthcare professional associations by the milk formula industry. It undermines breastfeeding & compromises maternal & child health 🔓🔗 bit.ly/3Ibw2bd

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Reposted by Children's Institute, University of Cape Town

UNICEF @unicef.org · Jul 21

This is a man-made disaster.

Enough is enough. The United Nations must be allowed to deliver aid of all types at scale to families in Gaza, wherever they are.

Starvation is a horrific reality for children and families in Gaza.

Aid at scale must be allowed in urgently.

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Jul 24

Watch the full interview with Qamani and his grandmother, in which our Senior Researcher @paulaproudlock.bsky.social also provides insight into the late registration of birth backlog: bit.ly/3GXXhpo #InvisibleChildren

South Africa faces legal action over birth certificate backlog • FRANCE 24 English

A research unit at the University of Cape Town is suing South Africa’s Home Affairs department over a backlog of 200,000 birth certificate applications, some of which have been delayed for up to seven years. Critics argue that the system, intended to curb illegal immigration, is instead harming vulnerable citizens by preventing them from accessing healthcare, completing their education, or securing legal employment. #southAfrica #Birth #certificate 🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen 🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN 🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/ Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen Follow us on X: https://f24.my/Xen Bluesky: https://f24.my/BSen and Threads: https://f24.my/THen Browse the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen Discover our TikTok videos: https://f24.my/TKen Get the latest top stories on Telegram: https://f24.my/TGen

bit.ly

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Children's Institute, University of Cape Town @childrensinstitute.bsky.social · Jul 24

In May 2023, the then Minister of Home Affairs acknowledged to Parliament that applications for late registration of birth had accumulated to 258,000 over 2018 to 2022. As part of our court case we’re also asking that Home Affairs be made to provide updated statistics. #InvisibleChildren

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