Abuse

The Department of Social Development is advocating a change to the law so that social workers employed by government can process child adoption applications‚ as opposed to it being done only by adoption agencies.
 
The review of the child adoption process comes after two cases in which the adoptive parents applied to the courts for the rescission of adoption orders‚ citing violent behaviour and psychological problems.
 

According to Gilles Virgili, violence is widespread in South African society to the extent that the country has been described as having the highest prevalence of violence in the world.
 
In her article titled ‘Unaccompanied migrant children fall through cracks of Child Protection’, Virgili states that violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination affect women, girls and boys across all social strata in South Africa, greatly reducing their safety and security and at the same time limiting opportunities for development.
 

Former First Lady of South Africa and Mozambique has added her voice to a growing campaign to block staff in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions from hiding behind immunity when accused of crimes and sexual abuse.

Graça Machel has added her voice to a campaign called ‘Code Blue’ that calls on the UN secretary general to immediately waver diplomatic immunity for all mission staff when complaints of sexual exploitation arise.

The Women and Men Against Child Abuse advocacy group has welcomed the rape conviction of ex-Grand Slam tennis champion, Bob Hewitt, by the High Court sitting in Palm Ridge on the East Rand.
 
Hewitt was found guilty of raping and sexually abusing three girls whom he coached in the 1980's and the organisations’ Vincentia Dlamini-Ngobese believes this case will encourage raped women to report their cases.
 
Dlamini-Ngobese further says that for children who have not and were scared to come out, this case serves as hope to the country’s justice system.
 

The United Nations says that around 120 million girls around the world, close to one in 10, have been raped or sexually assaulted by the time they turn 20.

In its new report, Hidden in Plain Sight, which draws on data from 190 countries, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) describes the report as the largest-ever study of violence against children.

The report revealed that one fifth of all murder victims are children and teens, with homicide the leading cause of death among male youths in Latin American countries including Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Brazil.

A United Nations (UN) report finds that around 120 million girls around the world, close to one in 10, have been raped or sexually assaulted by the time they turn 20.

Drawing on data from 190 countries, the global report by child welfare agency United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), entitled ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ also reveals that one fifth of all murder victims are children and teens, with homicide the leading cause of death among male youths in Latin American countries.

The Justice Project South Africa (JPSA) says that instead of condoning ‘abusive behaviour’ on the part of metro police officers, senior Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JPMD) official should ensure that officers comply with the law.

JPSA national chairperson, Howard Dembovsky, urged JMPD management to adhere to its standing orders, and encourage officers to act like adults and responsible law enforcers, instead of thugs.