In 2019, in South Africa, UNHCR and partners continued to be active members of the National Steering Committee, the Inter-Agency Working Group and Psychosocial Rights Forum. These multi-functional forums continued to be key in identifying gaps that exist in current unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) programmes and processes. In addition, these forums worked concertedly towards improving access to national services (documentation, birth registration, education, health and other social services) for refugees, asylum-seekers and migrant children. Joint activities, such as advocacy initiatives for the inclusion of refugee children in accessing national services and training of Government frontline staff on UASC (referred to as unaccompanied and separate migrant children (USMC) in South Africa), were championed by coordinated action in the multi-functional forums.
In 2019, UNHCR facilitated joint capacity building training in collaboration with UNICEF, Save the Children, Lawyers for Human Rights, the Department of Social Development (DSD) and IOM in Mpumalanga and Limpopo province. This training was provided to over 150 duty bearers (officials dealing with migrant/refugee children such as police, immigration officers, social workers and NGOs) on care and protection of migrant/refugee children in South Africa. UNHCR and partners were involved in the cross-border coordination meetings held to discuss coordination and management of UASC cases between Limpopo Province and Zimbabwe government, more so, to strengthen tracing and reunification through the International Social Services.
Interventions undertaken in 2019 by UNHCR and partners to ensure that the protection of children is strengthened, included support for capacity development, prevention and response services for children at risk, as well as best interest determinations (BID) within the UNHCR Best Interests Procedures (BIP). In addition, 340 advocacy interventions were made to facilitate access of children to national child welfare and social services through the DSD. UNHCR and partners assessed 852 children for best interest assessments (BIA). A total of 15 BIDs were conducted by partners in 2019 and decisions were pending on 20 BIDs at year end.
In 2019, 114 separated children and 14 unaccompanied children were identified. Community outreach activities led to increased awareness on child protection in refugee communities. A total of 55 UASC cash grants were issued by partners to cover their most basic needs, such as food and accommodation. A member of the community-based protection team completed an intensive professional development program in child protection in emergencies and went on to pilot and establish community-based child protection mechanisms (CBCPM) in Durban and Richards Bay, KwaZulu Natal province. Training was provided to refugee women, men, youth and partners on CBCPM and engagement through focus group discussions with children between the ages of 7-12. In previous years the identification of children at risk was a challenge, as a result of this training UNHCR and partners were able to rely on communities to take greater responsibility in ensuring that children are identified, and their rights are protected.
In 2019, the protection of children was strengthened through judo activities implemented by the International Judo Federation. The judo activities were facilitated in child-friendly spaces where refugee, asylum-seeker and undocumented children could come together to learn, play, socialise and develop their sporting skills. This space was also used to raise awareness on refugee, human and child rights, as well as an important mechanism to identify children in need of specialised support.