The Children's Institute is a leader in child policy research and advocacy in South Africa. The Institute aims to harness the collective academic capability at The University of Cape Town to promote enquiry, to build capacity through teaching and training, and to present evidence to guide the development of policies, laws and interventions for children. In positioning itself as an independent broker of evidence, the Institute provides information to those who are advocating on behalf of children, and engages in own evidence-based advocacy.
The work of the Children's Institute takes the best interests of the child into account and is aimed at ensuring that children are given primary consideration by society. In particular, the Institute pays special attention to promoting children's participation in its work, and advocates for their voices to be heard in decisions affecting their lives.
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What They Do
The Children's Institute is a leader in child policy research and advocacy in South Africa. Their activities focus on key challenges to the well-being of South Africa's children: poverty, inequality, HIV/AIDS, high infant and child mortality and morbidity, violence and abuse, and limited voice. Their purpose is to provide evidence to assist policy-makers and practitioners to create policies, programmes and institutions that support the best interests of the country's children. The Children's Institute at University of Cape Town, aims to contribute to policies, laws and interventions that promote equality and realise the rights and improve the conditions of all children in South Africa, through research, advocacy, education and technical support.