NEWS
Unctad study on violence against children SA
30.9.2004

From UNCTAD study, 30.9.2004 under section on South Africa: "Violence against children, including domestic violence and sexual abuse, remained widespread, the state department said. While there was increased attention to the problem, a lack of co-ordinated and comprehensive strategies to deal with violent crimes continued to impede the delivery of needed services to young victims. "There continued to be numerous reports of child rape during the year. Between January 2000 and June 2001, the police reported 31 780 cases of rape and attempted rape of children; however, observers believed that these figures represented a small percentage of the actual incidents of child rape, because most cases involved family members and were not reported. "South Africa had a low conviction rate for rape and child abuse. The minimum sentence for rape of a child was life in prison, but judges had the discretion to grant more lenient sentences. South Africa's neighbours and some other African countries mentioned in the report:"

© Speak Out Terms of use