Domestic Violence

1
Childrens 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

2
Focus 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

3
Focus groups

• 80 Children
• 12 16 years

4
Our 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.

5
Who 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

6
Who 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)

7
Impact 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• Withdrawn quiet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

8
Getting 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!

9
Our 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.

10
Reasons 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.

11
The 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.

12
The 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.

13
Who 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.

14
Reporting 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.

15
Reasons 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.

16
Nature 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.

17
Substance 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.

18
How 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

19
Community 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

20
What 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.
  

21
How 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.

22
Child 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.

23
Child 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.

24
Tips!

• 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.

25
Prevent 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

26
The 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.