Southern Africa Child Rights Situation Analysis update

Save the Children has released information from the Southern Africa Child Rights Situation Analysis report. Some of the facts are as follows: There are approximately 130 million people in SCS’s (Save the Children Sweden) Southern Africa region. Of which, 60.6 million (46.6%) are children, less than 18 years old, and 19 million (14.6%) are less than five years old. The two largest countries in the region are South Africa (48.2 million) and Mozambique (19.8 million). The two smallest countries are Botswana (1.8 million) and Swaziland (1.1 million). Annual average population growth rates vary from 1.4% (Lesotho) to 2.8% (Angola). Children (< 18 years) account for an average of 46.6% of the total population in the 10 countries surveyed. This proportion ranges from 38% (South Africa) to 54% (Mozambique). In four countries, i.e. Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, the proportion of children is over 50%.

It is estimated that 300 million children globally are subjected to violence, exploitation and abuse. In Southern Africa this includes the worst forms of child labor, armed conflict and to harmful traditional practices, such as early marriage, virginity testing and female genital mutilation/cutting.

The Child Rights Conference taking place on 1 and 2 November 2012 in Midrand in South Africa. Some of these issues will be of interest.