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The Southern African Network to End Corporal and Humiliating Punishment of Children (the Network) is an alliance of Southern African organisations working independently in various ways in their own countries to prevent and address child abuse and neglect, and ensure the protection of the rights of children. The purpose of the Network is to co-ordinate advocacy towards banning all forms of corporal and humiliating punishment and to promote positive discipline in Southern Africa. To this end, it brings together interested and committed organisations within the Southern African region to work towards a prohibition of corporal punishment through capacity building, information dissemination, and joint regional advocacy initiatives. The Network held its annual meeting in late February in Cape Town, South Africa, with 24 participants from seven Southern African countries. The first day focused on in-country developments and related activities of Network members. Presentations on lessons learnt from the Botswana experience of attempting to ban, the Zambian experience of building alliances and sustained advocacy; the South African experience of alliance-building as a strategy for social reform, recent research in Mozambique, and getting the support of religious institutions. In addition, the Global Initiative presented its country reports for the countries present. The final presentation of the day reported on two current parenting initiatives in Africa. The second day was spent on presentations and discussions concerning developing collective advocacy on the Continental level and regional (Southern African) level. Issues explored included global developments; opportunities for advocacy with the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child; a report on the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Forum meeting on November 2009; and advocacy with national Human Rights Institutions. Participants reviewed plans made at the 2009 meeting, consolidated plans for 2010 and discussed communication strategies. Various sub-groups were established to manage the activities agreed upon. Further information about the Network can be found at http://www.rapcan.org.za/sanchpc/default.asp.
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