Title: Domestic Violence
1Childrens Submission
- Domestic Violence
- Public Hearings of the Portfolio Select
Committee on Women, Youth, Children and People
with Disabilities in Parliament - Date Thursday 29th October 2009
2Focus groups children
- The following submission is based on the views
and experiences of children who took part in the
childrens focus group discussions for the
Childrens Summit held in the following areas - Atlantis
- Beaufort West
- Delft
- Guguletu / Nyanga
- Mossel Bay
- Saldana
3Focus groups
4Our views on Domestic Violence
- Child are neglected and hurt in the their homes
and elsewhere by their parents, siblings, other
family members or people they live with. - Children are neglected and abused
- Children are not given enough food
- Children are not supported and looked after
properly - Children are beaten, kicked, pulled thrown with
objects, stabbed, sexual abuse, raped and even
killed.
5Who are the perpetrators?
- Fathers mothers
- Step fathers step mothers
- Brothers Sisters
- Step brothers step sisters
- Grand parents
- Aunts and uncles
- Other family members
- Foster parents
- Other care givers
- Others children live with those next door
6Who are most at risk?
- Babies and young children neglect, physical and
verbal abuse - because they can not run away - Children between 6 and 10 years neglect, sexual
abuse rape - Children between 11 and 14 years neglect,
sexual abuse and rape (incest) - Older children neglect, physical and verbal
abuse, sexual abuse rape (incest)
7Impact of domestic violence
- Physical trauma
- Psychological trauma
- Stress and depression
- Sleeplessness bed wetting
- Withdrawn quiet
- Guilt and shame
- Rebellious
- Anti-social behaviour
- Violent and abusive behaviour
- Drop-out of school
- Become teen fathers mothers
8Getting help / reporting domestic violence
- Very few children tell and report
- Guilt, shame and fear stop children from telling
someone. - Children are threatened
- Domestic issues are settled privately
- Children are told not to tell
- Children are scared
- Children suffer in silence
- Police does not help!
9Our Views on Crime
- Crime is when people stab and kill each other.
- Crime is when children are hurt and used to
commit crime. - Children also commit crime.
- Crime is violence and conflict with the law. It
involves sex with children, abuse, harassment and
treating children badly. - Crime is bullying, robbery, rape, domestic
violence and house breaking. - How big is it?
- Crime is a big problem it happens every minute,
every hour and every day. - The rate of crime is very high- it is not going
down.
10Reasons for the high crime rate
- Poor parenting and domestic violence
- Shebeens make people fight and stab each other
with knives. - Gangsterism in communities.
- Poverty and unemployment.
- Communities are not standing together.
- The availability of alcohol and drugs.
- Poor law enforcement Criminals are not in
prison. Prison is a hotel that does not help.
Laws are not implemented. - Youth commit crime as they have too much time
sitting in corners doing nothing. They also dont
listen to parents and give in to peer pressure. - A lack of recreational activities.
11The nature of crime committed against children
- Children are abuse and hurt by people they live
with parents and family members - Children are raped, assaulted, kidnapped and
murdered. - Many children are sexually and physically abused.
- Sexual abuse, including the sexual exploitation
of children and using children for sex work. - They are also neglected and dumped (abandoned).
- Children are bullied and involved in fights.
- Some children are being sent to buy drugs and
taught how to use drugs.
12The Impact of Crime on children
- Being a victim of crime influences the
performance of children at school and can lead to
school dropout. - Some children can become criminals themselves
because of their experience of crime. - It can cause suicide and depression. Some
children become withdrawn and are outcasts in
their community. - These experiences creates emotional instability
as children are fearful, hurt inside, lack self
esteem, are afraid, depressed, not free to do
what they want to, feel unsafe and are cooped up
at home. - They get out of their minds and loose the
ability to trust and loose respect. - Some children stay on the streets as they are
living with unsafe people. - Rape stays with you forever. You live in fear
for the rest of your life. A child who was raped
becomes reserved and looses self confidence.
13Who commits crimes against children?
- Drug dealers and drug addicts.
- Convicted criminals.
- Police and government leaders.
- Stepfathers and parents.
- Teachers.
- Community leaders.
- Gangsters.
- In most of the focus groups, participants claimed
that the majority of crimes against children were
committed by local residents. A minority of these
crimes were committed by people from outside
areas. However, in one of the groups it was
alleged that most of the perpetrators are from
outside areas and obtain information from local
perpetrators.
14Reporting of crimes against children
- In most of the focus groups, participants
indicated that they would report crimes against
children. However, this was said with reservation
and ambivalence, as indicated below - Reporting a crime is not easy as they are being
intimidated not to report, feel afraid and are
threatened. - Some participants said they would report a crime
but were not willing to be a witness because we
are scared of dying. - Others said they would report crime but only if
the police will not keep coming to their house
for more information as this could jeopardize
their safety and put them in danger.
15Reasons for not report crimes against children
- Robbers are always armed.
- There is nothing you can do when someone tries
to hurt you, as they normally have a knife or
gun. You try to run away. Sometimes you are lucky
and you get away without being hurt. - Sometimes it is safer not to tell anybody.
- Participants indicated that they would report
crime to the police, teachers, ngos, social
workers, parents and relatives as well as
friends. They would report crimes to anybody who
is trustworthy.
16Nature and availability of substances
- A wide range of substances (both legal and
illegal) are freely available - Cannabis (various
types) , tik, alcohol, mandrax, cocaine,ecstasy,
cigarettes, anaesthetics from hospital and glue - Substances can be obtained easily and in any of
the following ways - One can go around the corner or around the
block. You can send someone to get it for you or
ask in the community. - Drugs can be obtained from shebeens and liquor
stores. - Family and friends.
- Some children live in homes where drugs are being
sold. - Substances can also be obtained from druglords
and drugdealers, tik houses and gangsters. - Some children sell drugs at school while other
people sell drugs on street.
17Substance abuse in families
- Only a few participants said that substance abuse
was a problem in their families. - Participants were reluctant to discuss this issue
- Many children have personal experiences of the
impact of substances Families abuse and assault
each other. It changes peoples behaviour. - It makes family members argue and fight and
results in the abuse of children. Substance abuse
hurts children and families. - Substance abuse leads to the loss of jobs and
unemployment. - Families fall apart, members loose love and
respect for each other. - Substance abuse also cause financial recklessness
and irresponsibility as addicts are always in
need of money and will steal family possessions
and take money to buy substances. - Families become dysfunctional.
18How children spend their time?
- Electronic forms of entertainment such as
computer and tv games - Doing household chores
- Spending time with friends
- Playing sport in the street or in sitting on the
street corner - Hanging out at shebeens and drug houses and
smoking with friends - In one of the focus groups it was reported that a
significant number of children in the area some
dagga, are sexually active and involved in gang
activities. - Doing homework
19Community facilities for children
- Very few young people participate in organized
social and recreational activities - Lack of such opportunities in their communities.
- Many young people joined gangs.
- In areas where organized activities were
available, young people joined church, youth,
sport and cultural groups. - In all focus groups, an overwhelming need for the
establishment of positive recreational
opportunities and facilities for young people
were expressed. These include the following
20What children want?
- Sporting facilities, outdoor and hiking clubs.
- Cultural activities such as music, drama, dancing
and movies. Cultural festivals and community
choirs. - Community service.
- Educational facilities such as studdy buddy
clubs, reading facilities and book clubs. - Psycho-social services such as support groups,
safe parks and safe places for children as well
as after care programmes. - Entertainment facilities such as amusement parks.
21How families can better care for their children
- Parents should give their children more love and
attention. - They should know where their children are.
- Families should sit down with their children and
discuss issues. They must spend more time with
their children. Parents must be open with their
children. - Parents must trust their children more.
- They must ensure that their homes are safe for
children and teach their children about safety. - They must set boundaries and respect their
children. - Parents must stop drinking and taking drugs, stop
stealing, take responsibility for their actions
and be responsible to their children and
community.
22Child care protection
- There should be more police and health services.
- The church should assist.
- Assistance should be provided to families in
distress. Provide jobs for unemployed parents. - Unsafe and open spaces must be build up.
- Drug houses and shebeens must be closed down.
- Shelters and places of safety for children must
be provided. - Build bigger houses so that children can have
proper beds. - The state must prioritise crime and act strictly
against it. - Increase awareness and educational programmes.
- Create safe communities.
- Ensure that children attend school and study.
Patrol communities to ensure that children attend
school on time.
23Child care and protection
- Parents
- Police
- Hospitals
- the state local government
- Community ngos
- families,
- social and community workers
- were identified as being responsible for the care
and protection of children.
24Tips!
- They must take their children to church.
- Parents must be adaptable to changing situations
and childrens evolving needs. - They must identify signs that their children are
in difficulty. - Parents must support each other in hard times.
Improve communication with kids. Respect their
kids then they will respect you as a parent. Love
your child at all times. Appreciate and care for
your child. - Love your children unconditionally and
consistently. Keep telling children that you love
them. Give support to children in every problem
they encounter with the greatest love.
25Prevent Domestic violence
- Jobs for parents
- Parent support groups and services
- Parenting programmes
- Parents must stop abuse alcohol and drugs
- Social workers and police must do regular
check-ups to see how children are doing - Police must investigate and protect children in
homes - Children at risk and those who are victims must
be supported - Abusers and offenders must be removed from the
homes
26The law!
- We dont know about the law the Domestic
Violence Act. - Our parents dont know about the law!
- Our community dont know about the law!
- We need to inform children, parents, families and
communities about the law and their rights. - We need to implement The Childrens Act, The
Sexual Offences Act etc.