Fifteen years have passed since the first situation analysis of women and children in South Africa was done in 1993. A second report on the state of the nation's children was published in 2001. This report summarizes recent trends with regard to children's well-being. Its purpose is to analyse existing data on children's status so as to provide information on children's rights gains and to identify areas and capacity gaps that need to be addressed by various stakeholders dealing with children's issues. The methodology involves a review and an analytical synthesis of existing information sources and consultations with experts in various areas such as health, early childhood development, education, social policies, etc. The Office on the Rights of the Child (ORC) in the Presidency conducted consultative activities with children in all nine provinces. This exercise provided valuable information on children's own perceptions of the things they may experience in their every-day life and thus enriched the document.