Children’s feedback highlights rise in levels of abuse
THESaartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children has raised concern around escalating levels of violence against children. Based in Manenberg on the Cape Flats, the centre attributes the increased levels of violence towards an increase in violence in general, with children being caught in the crossfire – be it gang-related or domestic violence.
“Despite all of the awareness raised, at least three children that we know of have gone missing over the past two weeks. The system is broken and, sadly, children, our most vulnerable members of society, are easy targets for predators,” says Shaheema McLeod, Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children director.
Using Child Protection Week, which takes place from May 25 to 31, the centre launched an anonymous postcard campaign, aimed at exploring the rationale behind violence. The campaign, named “I Deserve It”, tasked 600 Grade 10 learners to motivate the circumstances that would warrant domestic violence. Responses varied; from violence, no matter the situation, being unacceptable, to violence being deserved, when dinner wasn’t ready or an expected (but unconfirmed) affair had taken place.
”Our findings revealed that regardless of the community and the school, the learner responses very much depended on the environment in which the child had been raised in,” says McLeod.
Stories of child abuse are commonplace in South Africa; one out of four children gets abused daily, and it has been estimated that a child goes missing every five hours. Reducing the high levels of violence against children is among South Africa’s most overwhelming tasks. Despite the country’s progressive child protection laws, policies and programmes, high levels of abuse and violence are reported on a daily basis.
“Children are not only affected when they themselves are the victims of violence – exposure to violence, for example, towards the mother can be seriously damaging to their emotional psyche,” says Zeenat Osman, child counsellor at the centre. “Children who have witnessed domestic violence may experience a variety of emotions ranging from guilt to helplessness, which in turn can lead to behavioural problems or social difficulties.”
The following schools took part in the campaign: Sea Point High School, Leadership College, Gugulethu Comprehensive Secondary School and Norman Henshilwood High School.
Established in 1999, the centre has assisted more than 100 000 victims of violence and abuse. Feedback from learners: Rationale for abuse
”When I am impudent and out of line, and get smacked for it.”
”When someone sexually harasses me.”
”My mother deserves it when my father hits her.”
”When men smack my bum because I am dressed inappropriately.”
”In Islam, the husband can hit his wife only if she disobeys more than thrice. He’s not allowed to hit her in her face.” Rationale against abuse
”Women should not be beaten, whether they are at fault or not. Everyone makes mistakes. Women do not deserve to be injured for a silly mistake like burning food. Men are just petty sometimes.”
”A woman should not be beaten, our constitution and Bill of Rights say so.”
”Everyone is equal, no one is perfect, we all make mistakes. Women deserve respect, love and care, not to be beaten.”
”When a woman does something wrong for her husband, they should talk about it and not fight about it.” ”No one deserves to be beaten.” McLeod is the director of the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women and Children