Child abuse in Southern Africa

Abstract

The 1990s began with a commitment to children through the adoption, by the United Nations General Assembly, of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This Convention set the minimum standards of protection for children's survival, health and education; protection against exploitation at work; protection against the degradations of war; and protection against physical and sexual abuse. By 20th July, 1994, 163 countries had ratified the Convention and 11 other countries had signed but not yet ratified the convention (World Health Organization, 1994:1).