Close This website uses modern features that are not supported by your browser. Click here for more information.
Please upgrade to a modern browser to view this website properly. Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Opera Safari
your legal news hub
Sub Menu
Search

Search

Filter
Filter
Filter
A A A

SA's approach to child abuse commended

Publish date: 21 January 2019
Issue Number: 807
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: A Matter of Justice

SA was praised for showing its commitment to tackling sexual violence against children by enacting 'comprehensive' legislation. The index on child sexual abuse and exploitation, published by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a research arm of The Economist Group, also praised SA's training and guidance support workers in dealing with these cases, reports TimesLIVE. 'The Department of Education issues guidelines for teaching professionals, and there are similar programmes for medical, social and psychiatric workers,' the report said. 'Victim support and resources for legal and law enforcement professionals could be strengthened.' It praised laws prohibiting buying minors for sex filming or photographing of minors having sex; human trafficking; and online grooming. It also praised Vodacom's toll-free line offering children counselling. The index ranked how 40 countries respond to these issues at a national level. The index did not measure the scale of the problem in each country but examined how stakeholders are responding to the threat of child sexual abuse and exploitation. Only half of the 40 countries collect nationally representative prevalence data on child sexual abuse. Only five collect this data on child sexual exploitation. The report found that boys were overlooked, with 21 countries having no legal protections for boys in their child rape laws. Only 18 countries collect prevalence data about the sexual abuse of boys.

– TimesLIVE

We use cookies to give you a personalised experience that suits your online behaviour on our websites. Otherwise, you may click here to learn more, or learn how to block or disable cookies. Disabling cookies might cause you to experience difficulties on our website as some functionality relies on cookie information. You can change your mind at any time by visiting “Cookie Preferences”. Any personal data about you will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.