Be aware, be educated, be intolerant
FERNDALE – Founder of Women and Men against Child Abuse speaks out about sexual assault in South Africa.
Since April is sexual assault awareness month, Miranda Friedmann, founder and director of Women and Men against Child Abuse (WMACA) in Ferndale, and Kidz Clinics in Boksburg and Alexandra, sat down to explain that society’s awareness has grown enormously since she became an advocate against sexual abuse in 1994.
Compared to previous years in South Africa, there has been an increase in cases of sexual assault. The causes for this are poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, population increase, as well as victims of sexual assault coming forward to report their abuse.
However, Friedmann expressed there are many things that can change. For example, there is a time prescription on the period in which an individual who has been sexually molested can take a perpetrator to a criminal court. The time period is 20 years unlike rape, which has no time prescription.
As expressed in a report on late disclosure, Friedmann said, months and even years after an assault, children may still not speak up because they are afraid of not being believed, or they are simply too traumatised to speak of their experience. The is why WMACA is part of a campaign to take this to the Constitutional Court as they believe there should be no distinction between rape and sexual assault as far as the effect on one’s life is concerned.
“Sexual assault does not only result in the loss of childhood but results in the loss of the potential of that child. This is why we need to make it easier for children and adults to come forward and receive support and free treatment,” said Friedmann.
Friedmann said the public needs to be educated about the subject in order to assist victims and for parents to be aware of any signs of sexual abuse. Parents should also know where the facilities are that can provide counselling, medical examinations and court preparation. Friedmann said people can contact Childline and Kidz Clinics for advice if they suspect a child is being sexually abused, and should report to the police family violence, child protection and sexual offences units (FCS units).
“In my eyes, sexual assault is akin to the murder of a child’s psyche and of their potential,” Friedmann added. “There is hope as changes in the law and in society are heading in the right direction. We have good laws but the problem lies in their implementation,” Friedmann mentioned.
Details: Women and Men against Child Abuse, 011 789 8815.
