Nonsupportive Disclosure in Child Sexual Abuse: Confidants' Characteristics and Reactions

In a sample of 856 South African child victims of sexual abuse ( M age= 10.2 yr., SD = 4.2), 26% experienced nonsupportive reactions at initial disclosure, with nonsupportive reactions taking two forms, ignoring the child (16% of cases) and punishing or silencing the child (10% of cases). Nonsupportive disclosure was equally likely when the confidant was a nonoffending guardian (OR=1.00), another family member (OR = 0.84), or a professional person (OR=1.07) but significantly more likely in cases where the confidant was a community member (OR = 3.41).

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Disclosing Child Sexual Abuse during Forensic Assessments of the Black South African Child

SOUTHERN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ◽

10.25159/2415-5829/4544 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Jabulani Makhubele ◽

Selelo Frank Rapholo

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

South African ◽

Personal Characteristics ◽

Value Systems ◽

African Child ◽

Black South African ◽

Forensic Assessments ◽

South African Child ◽

Forensic Interviewers

Child sexual abuse is a social and health issue that affects citizens across the globe. It has a number of physical, psychological and emotional consequences. Children are reluctant to talk about their involvement in sexual abuse owing to various reasons. Therefore, forensic interviewers need to understand the process of disclosure when conducting forensic assessments. They also need to be watchful of various dynamics that are likely to have an impact on the disclosure rate. The aim of this study was to describe the dynamics during forensic assessments in the context of the black South African child when disclosing child sexual abuse. A descriptive design using stratified random, purposive and convenient sampling techniques to select the participants was employed, resulting in 14 participants (13 were females and only one was male). The data were collected by means of semi-structured in-depth interviews and were thematically analysed using the Nvivo program. The findings reveal that personal characteristics of the child and the interviewer, their communication abilities, blind assessments and informed allegation interviews have an impact on forensic assessments of black South African children. It is concluded that the dynamics of disclosing child sexual abuse during forensic assessments in terms of the variables of the study are not unique, except in terms of sociocultural value systems, beliefs and customs. As a result, it is recommended that the forensic interviewers come to the developmental level of the child, speak his/her language or use translators for him/her to understand, and to follow blind assessments interviews as opposed to informed allegation interviews. However, informed allegations interviews are recommended when assessing very young children.

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Delaying Pre-trial Therapy to Child Victims of Sexual Abuse: An Unfounded Prevailing Culture in South Africa?

The International Journal of Children s Rights ◽

10.1163/15718182-02503002 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (3-4) ◽

pp. 599-621

Author(s):

Daniël F. Fouché ◽

Ansie Fouché

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

South African ◽

Policy Reform ◽

Child Witnesses ◽

Child Victims ◽

Criminal Proceedings ◽

Legal Professionals ◽

Victims Of Sexual Abuse ◽

Document Review

Due to the statutory obligation to report child sexual abuse to the authorities, children in South Africa are increasingly called to testify in criminal proceedings. A recent qualitative study found that South African parents and social workers are often advised by legal professionals to postpone pre-trial therapy (therapy provided to child witnesses prior to testimony) until after the child’s testimony, based on concerns that therapy could contaminate the child’s version of events, and might ultimately lead to an acquittal of the accused. In this study, the authors analysed selected authoritative documents to explore whether or not any directives exist in respect of the provision of pre-trial therapy to child victims of sexual abuse in South Africa. Our findings suggest that none of the authoritative documents included in our document review specifically mention the rendering of pre-trial therapy to child victims of sexual abuse. Recommendations for policy reform and research are made.

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Provision of Antiretroviral Prophylaxis to Child Rape Victims in South Africa: HIV Status and Delayed Reporting

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.96.1.17-18 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 96 (1) ◽

pp. 17-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Steven J. Collings

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

High Risk Group ◽

Child Victims ◽

Sexually Active ◽

Rape Victims ◽

Hiv Status ◽

African Child ◽

Antiretroviral Prophylaxis ◽

South African Child ◽

Child Rape

In a sample of 780 South African child victims of rape (girls under the age of 18 years; age M = 10.5 yr., SD = 4.8), 10% did not qualify for antiretroviral prophylaxis because HIV status at presentation was positive and a further 34.1% did not qualify because the rape was reported more than 72 hours after the alleged offense. Regression analyses indicated that child rape victims who reported that they had been sexually active prior to the rape constitute a particularly high risk group for HIV infection and suggest primary and secondary prevention programs should be designed to decrease sexual activity among children and to encourage more immediate reporting of rape among younger children, children who are not sexually active, and children who are incestuously abused.

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RESTORATIVE JUSTICE WITH YOUTH SEX OFFENDERS: ISSUES FOR PRACTICE

SOUTHERN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ◽

10.25159/2415-5829/2251 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 241-259

Author(s):

Thulane Gxubane

Keyword(s):

Sex Offenders ◽

Restorative Justice ◽

South African ◽

Justice System ◽

Work Practice ◽

Social Work Practice ◽

Youth Offenders ◽

African Child ◽

Doctoral Study ◽

South African Child

The South African child justice system has adopted the philosophy of restorative justice in the management of child and youth offenders in general as reflected in the preamble of the Child Justice Act 75 of 2008. Whilst restorative justice has been easily applied to less serious youth crimes generally, there seems to be some reservations regarding its appropriateness to dealing with youth sex offenders. This article looks at restorative justice approach within the context of diversion and seeks to highlight practice issues that need to be considered with regard to the application of the aforementioned approach in dealing with youth sex offenders. The article draws from the findings of a Doctoral study that the author conducted which explored this area of social work practice.

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Right to Protection against Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

10.1093/oso/9780199470716.003.0005 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Asha Bajpai

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Commercial Sexual Exploitation ◽

Child Victims ◽

Sexual Offences ◽

Minor Children ◽

Marriage Laws ◽

Education Act ◽

International Instruments

Child sexual abuse and exploitation covers the sexual maltreatment of both children and young people. Part A deals with child sexual abuse (CSA) in India, its magnitude, and child sexual abuse in institutions. It deals with the national legal regime relating to CSA including the constitutional provisions, Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO). Law reform relating to some provisions in POCSO, child marriage laws, Right to Education Act and, and child victims and witnesses is recommended. Part B deals with commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking of minor children in the context of organized exploitation for commercial gain. The Indian laws dealing with commercial sexual exploitation and pornography are included. Important judgements and international instruments dealing with child sexual abuse and exploitation and the important role played by NGOs and government in dealing with cases of CSA and exploitation are included.

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Jurors’ Gender and Their Fear of False Child Sexual Abuse Accusations Are Related to Their Belief in Child Victims’ Allegations

Journal of Child Sexual Abuse ◽

10.1080/10538712.2021.1931612 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Tayler M. Jones ◽

Bette L. Bottoms ◽

Kajal Sachdev ◽

Jonathan Aniciete ◽

Karis Gorak

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Child Victims

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Child Sexual Abuse, Criminal Justice, and the Pediatrician

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.79.3.437 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 79 (3) ◽

pp. 437-439

Author(s):

ELIZABETH BAUM ◽

MICHAEL A. GRODIN ◽

JOEL J. ALPERT ◽

LEONARD GLANTZ

Keyword(s):

Sexual Abuse ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Child Sexual Abuse ◽

Criminal Prosecution ◽

The Past ◽

Actual Increase ◽

Victims Of Sexual Abuse

More children are being recognized as victims of sexual abuse than in the past. Because pediatricians are often the first professionals to see the victim, they are often also the first to assess and to evaluate the child. Increased diagnoses of child sexual abuse may be the result either of an actual increase in the incidence of child sexual abuse or of heightened recognition. Whichever explanation or combination is correct, it is crucial that pediatricians be aware not only of the issue of child sexual abuse but also of the correct procedures in collecting data that may be used as evidence and in preparing to be a witness in a potential criminal prosecution of the alleged offender.

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