Launch seminar of five policy briefs

Date:  9 November
Time: 13:30 – 15:30
Venue:    VCRs, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban

The HSRC seminar series is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The views and opinions expressed therein as well as findings and statements of the seminar series do not necessarily represent the views of DST.

After the launch of the National Development Plan Vision 2030 of South Africa in August 2012, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) South Africa commissioned a study that explored available policy options for addressing poverty traps and social exclusion among children in South Africa and the additional national and societal efforts that are needed to break such traps. Poverty Traps and Social Exclusion among Children in South Africa was nominated by UNICEF as one of the 12 best policy research reports done globally for them in 2014 (See Best of UNICEF Research 2014, http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/742). It explored:Progress and challenges in eliminating poverty traps and social exclusion among children since democratic reforms, and implications for policy;

• Progress and challenges in design and implementation of policies ensuring a more inclusive society since democratic reforms, and implications for policy;
• Additional policy instruments and implementation arrangements that will take society closer to eliminating child poverty and a significant reduction in child inequality by 2030.

The study further:

• Explored the characteristics of children caught up in the phenomena of poverty traps and social exclusion, and those who have ‘escaped’ poverty traps and social exclusion;
• Drew lessons from South Africa as well as countries that have successfully eliminated/substantially reduced poverty traps and social exclusion among children;
• Made concrete policy recommendations to lift children out of poverty traps and how to make South Africa a more inclusive society.

After the formal launch of the report PAN: Children consulted with Professor Servaas van der Berg from the University of Stellenbosch to develop the following five policy briefs based on the report, which are the focus of this launch seminar.

• Education: Every child must read by age 9
• Poor childhood health can condemn children to  poverty for life
• Social and family influences trap many children in poverty
• How geography can trap children in poverty
• How lack of assets affect child poverty and social exclusion.

The seminar may be attended in Pretoria, Cape Town or Durban

RSVP by 8 November:

Cape Town: Carmen August (021) 466 7827, caugust@hsrc.ac.za   12th Floor, Plein Park Building, Plein Street, Cape Town; 
Durban: Ridhwaan Khan (031) 242 5400, rkhan@hsrc.ac.za   1st Floor, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, Pods 5 and 6, Cato Manor;
Pretoria: HSRC Video Conference, 1st floor HSRC Library Human Sciences Research Council, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria. Ms. Valerie Fichardt on 012 302 2420 or email her at vfichardt@hsrc.ac.za. Ms. Arlene Grossberg, Tel: (012) 302 2811, e-mail: acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za , or  Ms Isabel Magaya, acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za, Tel: 012 302 2420