scholarly journals Prevalence, Theoretical Framework and South African Legislative Measures on Child Sexual Abuse and Incest

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 417-428
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ivy Smit

Background Child sexual abuse and incest are the worst crimes and offences against children and the vulnerable in the society.  These have continued to plague South African communities and a major social issue for social workers.  The study drew from previous findings on psycho-social effects of father-daughter incest which was conducted in fulfilment of a Masters studies.  As well as how it affected the offender and the family. Objectives and Purpose of the study The study attempted to understand how incest manifest within and across nations, how the family is affected and what role it plays in an incestuous relationship as well the sanctioning of such social abomination. Social Work intervention is also scrutinize particularly in support of the family. Methods The study emanates from a Masters research undertaken where qualitative approach was utilized to determine psycho social effects of incest.  This piece of work looked at the prevalence and nature of incest, theoretical framework in respect of incest as well as South African punitive measures on child sexual abuse and incest. These were discussed as themes with subthemes.

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-59
Author(s):  
Rika Dewi Auliani Usman ◽  
Nurul Husna

Abstract. Sexual crimes occur not only in urban areas but also in villages. This crime has a big impact especially the majority of victims are children. LRSAMPK Darussa’adah is an institution whose role is to provide services for victims. The purpose of this study was to determine the types of cases of child sexual violence, the strategies carried out by the assistants in terminating and barriers, challenges and support in terminating. This is a field research with a qualitative approach. Data collection techniques are observation, interviews and documentation, then the research results are analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the types of child sexual abuse cases handled by LRSAMPK Darussa’adah were rape, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, neglect of the baby, sexual abuse and abduction for sexual purposes. The accompanying strategy in terminating child sexual abuse cases is to convince the victims’ families and communities by involving referrals, “geuchik”, social workers and related agencies. The challenges of Darussa’adah social workers are when client stakeholders are difficult to ask for information about victims and there are some people who refuse and some accept victims. The support received by Darussa’adah social workers is when the referrals are willing to work together to find ways to facilitate the termination of victims, and also families and there are still people who are willing to accept among the majority of people who refuse victims returning,  Abstrak. Kejahatan seksual marak terjadi tidak hanya di perkotaan tetapi meluas ke perkampungan. Kejahatan ini berdampak besar khususnya sebagian besar korbannya adalah anak-anak. LRSAMPK Darussa’adah merupakan lembaga yang berperan memberi pelayanan bagi korban. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui jenis kasus kekerasan seksual anak, strategi yang dilakukan oleh pendamping dalam melakukan terminasi dan hambatan, tantangan maupun dukungan dalam melakukan terminasi. Ini adalah penelitian lapangan (field research) dengan pendekatan kualitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data adalah observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi, selanjutnya hasil penelitian dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa jenis kasus kekerasan seksual anak yang ditangani LRSAMPK Darussa’adah adalah perkosaan, pelecehan seksual, eksploitasi seksual, penelantaran bayi, pencabulan perdagangan dan penculikan untuk tujuan seksual.  Strategi pendamping dalam melakukan terminasi pada kasus kekerasan seksual anak adalah dengan meyakinkan keluarga korban maupun masyarakat dengan melibatkan perujuk, geuchik, pekerja sosial dan dinas terkait. Hambatan dan tantangan pekerja sosial Darussa’adah adalah ketika stakeholder klien sulit dimintai keterangan mengenai korban dan ada sebagian masyarakat yang menolak dan sebagian menerima korban. Adapun dukungan yang diterima pekerja sosial Darussa’adah adalah ketika perujuk bersedia kerjasama mencari cara agar mempermudah terminasi korban, dan juga keluarga serta masih ada masyarakat yang mau menerima di tengah-tengah sebagian besar masyarakat yang menolak korban kembali.  


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Daniel Tuelo Masilo

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is undoubtedly one of the social problems negatively affecting children in South Africa. Everyday reports in research and different media platforms such as radio, television, social media and newspapers suggest that sexual abuse of children and those attending school, has reached unprecedented proportions. Within the school setting, it is reported that school-based employees such as teachers, security personel and gardeners are alleged to be the perpetrators of this heinous crime against children. The purpose of this paper through the literature review methodology, is to highlight the phenomenon of CSA perpetrated against learners in the South African schools and indicate how the social work profession may intervene. To this end, this paper calls social workers to intervene by means of educating learners on child sexual abuse, establishing and strengthening the childcare and protection forums, engaging parents, guardians and lastly facilitating dialogues with the school-based employees. These interventions will go a long way in addressing the phenomenon of CSA, and most importantly, protecting the rights of children as the most vulnerable group in societies.


2001 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 857-860
Author(s):  
Karl Peltzer

A questionnaire was used to study perceptions of interventions for child sexual abuse in a nonrepresentative urban South African population of 132 African/Black participants (61 men and 71 women) from the general public of Mankweng. Their ages ranged from 21 to 60 years ( M age = 32.2 yr., SD = 10.4). Analysis indicated these participants clearly supported most of the components of nonadversarial approaches. Women were more positive about a nonadversarial approach than men; however, participants disagreed on questions about controlling the offender and whether an accused relative should move out of the home of the victim. Participants supported prosecuting offenders and longer prison sentences and did not favour leniency for first-time offenders. They further believed children, the family, and even less the offenders should receive treatment.


Author(s):  
Jabulani Makhubele ◽  
Selelo Frank Rapholo

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.


Author(s):  
Rania El-Sawy Abdo Abdel-Qawi

The current study aimed to review the most prominent axes related to sexual abuse against children with disabilities in society, including1- Learn about the concept and forms of sexual abuse for people with disabilities.2- Recognizing the physical, psychological, and social effects of abuse.3- Responsible for exposing a child with disabilities to harassment or exploitation.4- The available treatment methods to reduce the consequences of the abuse if it develops into sexual assault. 5- Educating the family of people with disabilities about the possibility that their child will be exposed to sexual harassment.6- Adding the subject of sexual education as an effective means of preventing harassment against people with disabilities. 7- Educating the family, society and those working with people with disabilities about the correct scientific methods and concepts of sex education as a healthy and preventive means against harassment of all kinds. 8- Establishing proposed procedural mechanisms that help workers in the field of special education to know the most important preventive and awareness programs and to activate them in all educational stages.


1990 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldine Walford ◽  
Marie-Therese Kennedy ◽  
Morna K. C Manwell ◽  
Noel McCune

Two cases of fathers who committed suicide following the revelation that they had sexually abused their own or other children, are described. The importance of being alert to the possibility of suicide and suicidal acts by family members following a disclosure, is emphasised. Improved liaison and co-ordination between agencies working with these families may enable vulnerable cases to be more readily identified and consequently offered appropriate support and treatment.The revelation that the father in a family has sexually abused his own or other children often precipitates a crisis within the family. The distress suffered by the children themselves and by their mothers is well documented. (Browne and Finkelhor, Hildebrand and Forbes). Goodwin reported suicide attempts in 11 of 201 families, in which sexual abuse had been confirmed. Eight of the attempts were made by daughter-victims. In three of the five cases of mothers who attempted suicide, the abuse was intrafamilial. The impact on father perpetrators, previously a less well researched field, has been receiving more attention of late. Maisch, in a sample of 63 fathers convicted of incest reported that two fathers subsequently committed suicide. Wild has reported on six cases of suicide and three of attempted suicide by perpetrators following disclosure of child sexual abuse. The Cleveland Inquiry Report mentions one father, charged with several sex offences, who committed suicide while awaiting trial. A recent letter to The Guardian newspaper (18th February 1989) by 11 local paediatricians in that area suggests that there are now two such cases of suicide committed by alleged perpetrators.


1991 ◽  
Vol 159 (6) ◽  
pp. 769-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danya Glaser

Child sexual abuse is a commonly encountered and often emotionally damaging experience, maintained by secrecy and followed by denial after disclosure. Treatment in this field involves both the child and the family in a variety of treatment settings and modalities, often proceeding in parallel. Child developmental considerations dictate that treatment often proceeds in phases. It aims to protect the child from further abuse and the consequences of disclosure, and address the trauma and context of the abuse. Careful planning and co-operation is required by the many professionals working in this stressful area in order to avoid confusion, conflicts, and splits which may mirror relationships in the family. The heterogeneity of the problem is reflected in the fact that treatment cannot be offered in a uniform programme. Legal issues may influence the treatment process. Evaluation of treatment modalities, the identification of protective factors and achieving long-term adjustment in the least detrimental manner offer challenges in this newly developing field.


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