Today is World Children’s Day, marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. At the G20 Social Summit at Birchwood in Boksburg, leaders focused on key issues affecting children, including child poverty and online safety.

A global coalition of child online safety met for the first time at the Social Summit to coordinate and align on investments to protect children in digital spaces, warning that delays will multiply social and economic costs for years to come.

According to the latest data and evidence, 300 million children are subjected to technology-facilitated sexual abuse every year, and reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have increased by 1 300% in the last year alone.

Addressing delegates of various civil societies at the G20 Social Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised that the health and well-being of women and children to be prioritised.

“This Social Summit has called for more resources to be devoted to eliminating child poverty and hunger and to ensure that children are protected. The progressive deliberations at this Social Summit have culminated in calls for greater political commitment to advancing young people’s access to opportunities.

“It has called for the health and well-being of women and children to be prioritised and for greater representation of women in all facets of society. As South Africa, we have lent our support to the Global Leaders Network for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.”

Amogelang Mashele, the first female president of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament, who handed over the declaration of children to the President, spoke to the SABC on the sidelines.

The Children’s declaration touches on five points, such as AI, online safety and policies around cyberbullying.

Mashele says the presence of children and groups for children shows that children are acknowledged.

“Being at the Social Summit means a lot to me because children will be acknowledged. The decisions to be made from the declaration will shape our future.”

Amogelang Mashele, the first female president of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament speaks to #sabcnews ahead of handing over the Children’s declaration to the President. #G20SouthAfrica #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/30gmJGZb1p

— Busisiwe Radebe (@MaRadebeBS) November 20, 2025

Kgomotso Papo, Child Participation Advisor, Save the Children South Africa, has had the role of making sure that the children’s declarations are ready from the 14th of November until today.

“We have had around 50 children participating from the age of seven. The children reflected on issues that affect them, such as climate change. And the issues of trade so that children can understand.”

Kgomotso Papo, Child Participation Advisor, Save the Children South Africa had the role of making sure that the children’s declarations were ready. #sabcnews #G20SouthAfrica #G20summit pic.twitter.com/NRJE7DVneQ

— Busisiwe Radebe (@MaRadebeBS) November 20, 2025

In the children’s declaration, they state: “Listen to us, work with us and build the future with us.”