‘The vulnerable are not being protected enough’
Yesterday, 10 December, was the last day of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse.
The Mossel Bay Advertiser interviewed a psychologist and law expert about sexual crimes against the most vulnerable in society.
Great Brakker Dr Hetta van Niekerk has a PhD in law and qualifications in psychology and education. She is an educational psychologist and also, her expertise is often used in court cases, in training and in consulting to various groups regarding law and psychology.
Regarding the 16 Days, Van Niekerk said: "I am totally in favour that the 16 Days are used to actively raise funds to help victims and as a platform to provide information to the public.
"I am not in favour of the money being spent on organising meetings. The government should use this money so that magistrates, state prosecutors, the police and forensic social workers and psychologists in the field can be properly trained. Organisations such as Cape Mental Health and the Thuthuzela care centre should also be supported." Van Niekerk specialises in the area of sexual abuse of people with intellectual disability (ID).
"Children and adults with ID are a vulnerable group of individuals where sexual abuse is concerned. The high incidence of acts of sexual abuse in this group is linked to myths and stereotyping, for example, the common idea that a person with ID is unable to give evidence in court or that her or his evidence will not be believed or taken seriously."
Van Niekerk said: "The elderly and children in institutions are easy targets."
Speech problems
Children and adults with mental disabilities and Alzheimer's disease sufferers and people with speech problems were all vulnerable to sexual abuse. The use of speech therapists in court and exploring alternative ways of communicating in court besides only verbal, were necessary, and were gaining traction in certain courts in the country, Van Niekerk noted.
"When the police and prosecution can count on the expertise and commitment of different professional role players, persons with ID are empowered to find their own voices in a court of law. Unfortunately, the resources from the private sector in our area are no longer utilised for these witnesses as they were before."
Van Niekerk said: "In certain parts of the country, the court system is failing children. There are not the expertise, human resources and service providers needed to do proper investigations to take matters to court."
It was wrong that leaving children unsupervised was accepted in South African and often the norm. "You get three year olds playing on their own, with no adult supervision. Crimes can be prevented if children are supervised properly. Often you hear of a child 'just disappearing'."
She said the protection of children was the responsibility of parents, carers and the community. "Municipalities should provide safe playgrounds."
She also stressed: "Sex education is extremely important. Children from a young age should know the correct names for body parts and what is a safe and an unsafe touch."