The Constitution of South Africa on Children's Rights

  Read The Children's Television Charter

If you have been abused, phone Childline 08000-55555.
You can phone us any time of the day or night. You don't have to give your name if you don't want to and phoning us doesn't cost any money. You can phone us from any phone - just pick it up and dial.

Adapted from the Constitution of South Africa

I have the right to a loving and caring family, a proper safe and comfortable home, clothing and healthy food. I have the right to be told the house rules of where I live.As a child, I should not be forced to work.

I have the right to an education suitable to my aptitudes and abilities. I have the right to a say in my care, and any changes to how I am cared for, according to my age & maturity.

I have the right to good health care if I am sick and to be kept away from cigrettes, alcohol & drugs. I have the right to get special care for special needs.I have the right to play and to take part in sport with other children.

I have the right to be protected from hurt. I am a real person and have a right to be treated properly.I have the right to be taken seriously and to make mistakes.

I have the right to my own religion and culture. I have a right to my name and my nationality.I have the right to be treated the same, no matter what my colour, race, gender, language or religion.I have the right to be proud of my heritage and beliefs.

I have the right to speak and be heard. I have the right to send and receive private mail that is not read or cut by others.

I have the right to privacy. I have the right to own my own things.I have the right to speak and visit in private with my family or any other person like my big friend, a person representing me like my social worker or my lawyer.

I have a right to a lawyer in coutrooms and hearings affecting my future. I have a right to live in a nice place and not be put in prison or in a police cell.I have the right to know what my rights are.

Adapted from the Constitution of South Africa.

Help us to stop the cycle of abuse by phoning in for counselling and reporting any incidents of child abuse in your family and community. With your help, we can break the cycle of abuse in the new South Africa. Together, we can build a nation based on caring, self-respect and love.

Sometimes it's OK to say No to an adult!

No-one should touch your private parts. Your body belongs to YOU, especially your private parts. (Private parts are the parts of your body covered by your swimming costume.) If someone tries to touch your private parts, say NO! Then tell someone about it. Keep on telling until someone listens and believes you and helps you.

Children have rights too - including to be protected and feel safe within their family.

Don't walk anywhere on your own ...try to walk with friends. Don't wander off by yourself.

Always tell a parent where you are going.

If someone asks you to keep a secret, tell Mum, Dad or an adult friend.You should not keep bad secrets.

Never talk to strangers.

Learn how to say NO! loud and clear.

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The Children's Television Charter

Children should have programmes of high quality which are made specifically for them, and which do not exploit them. These programmes, in addition to entertaining, should allow children to develop physically, mentally and socially to their fullest potential. Children should hear, see and express themselves, their culture, their languages and their life experiences, through television programmes which affirm their sense of self, community and place.

Children's programmes should promote an awareness and appreciation of other cultures in parallel with the child's own cultural background. Children's programmes should be wide-ranging in genre and content, but should not include gratuitous scenes of violence and sex. Children's programmes should be aired in regular slots at times when children are available to view, and/or distributed via other widely accessible media or technologies.

Sufficient funds must be made available to make these programmes to the highest possible standards.

Governments, production, distribution and funding organisations should recognise both the importance and vulnerability of indigenous children's television, and take steps to support and protect it.

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