On 25 May, H.E. Mr. Colin Wrafter, Ambassador of Ireland to South Africa addressed the Regional Seminar on Children who Cross Borders in Southern Africa. The event was hosted by Save the Children UK. The text of his address can be seen here (PDF 31kb).

Save the Children UK has been working with members of the Save the Children Alliance and other partners in the Southern Africa region to research, document and advocate on issues around child cross border migration in southern Africa. The collaboration with Wits University Child Migration Studies programme and other stakeholders such as SADC and the local organisations is important if sustainable and comprehensive responses are to be identified.

Irish Aid has been supporting Save the Children UK to implement a programme that seeks to increase child participation in Orphan and Vulnerable Children programmes, especially those associated with HIV and AIDS; facilitate the development of and review of legislation and scale up best practices in Orphans and Vulnerable Children policy and programming. Support of nearly €1 million has been provided over the period (2003 - 2009). A key focus area of the current phase of the programme is on Research and Advocacy on the rights of and protection of migrant and non-national children to ensure that these are not left out of regional agendas on migration and trafficking.