Benoni-based Trauma Support SA group founder, Philip Stoneman, and East Rand women, Christa Rollin and Diane Wilkinson, shared information about sexual violence and human trafficking recently.
“Raising awareness about sexual violence and human trafficking is essential in the trauma field, as anything that does not get spoken about remains hidden,” Stoneman said.
“There is a tendency to seek secrecy when it comes to certain traumatic incidents.
“When we speak about sexual violence or abuse and when we speak about human trafficking, we raise awareness and shine the spotlight on unspeakable horrors committed by the perpetrator.”
Stoneman said educating and raising awareness equip volunteers, community members, and professionals and empowers survivors to seek help and to come out of the shadows.
Benoni resident Rollin is the director and founder of the Sexual Assault Clinic in Rynfield, and of Rollin Medico-Legal Consulting based in Benoni.
She is a registered and trained forensic nurse, and has conducted over 2 000 sexual assault forensic examinations.
“I started the Sexual Assault Clinic in 2011. The child protection system fails the children in the country and there was a need for specialised services to help children and their families through child abuse,” she said.
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“Forensics mean that science is used to find, collect and interpret evidence of crimes. This evidence is used in courts to find an accused guilted or not guilty. Forensic science has a very wide application and is constantly developing.
“I provide medico-legal services to children between newborns to 18 years who have fallen victim to child abuse (rape, assault, neglect, and human trafficking) free of charge – it includes forensic examinations, legal advice and expert testimony in courts.
“Benoni is my community and most cases will come from Benoni and surrounds but I see clients from as far as Namibia. Sexual abuse is complex because it is a secret crime and children often do not have a voice in the current system. I also see very brutal assaults on children.”
Rollin’s encouraged the public to join training courses where she teaches about how to look for signs in children who are being sexually violated.
She gave some tips during the presentation:
• Change in behaviour
• Scholastic performance
• Physical signs of infections.
Wilkinson is the CEO of the National Freedom Network (NFN) which comprises the people and organisations working against human trafficking across South Africa.
“Human trafficking is the illegal trade of humans with the intent to exploit,” she said.
There are three elements to consider in human trafficking, according to Diane:
• Act: What happened?
• Means: How it happened?
• Purpose: To exploit the person.
She added that awareness can be raised if people see something suspicious, they need to say it by contacting:
• Police
• Human trafficking hotline – 0800 222 777.
They must also use their sphere of influence to raise awareness and join preventative programmes to help them identify signs of human trafficking.
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If anyone would like to donate to the Sexual Assault Clinic. operating as an NPO, contact 073 549 6678.
For more information about the NFN email diane@nfn.org.za or visit www.nfn.org.za
“Our vision is to improve access to appropriate, effective and integrated trauma support services in South Africa to ensure that all residents have access to effective trauma support services,” Stoneman said.
