2 500 women murdered in SA each year

National Women’s Day celebrations on Saturday 9 August should not overshadow South Africa’s horrifying reality research shows.

Violence against women and children in South Africa affects individuals from all walks of life, regardless of socio-economic status, ethnicity, age or religion. Statistics also show that South Africa’s rates of homicide, rape, domestic violence and violence against women and children are far above those of other countries.

According to Chantel Cronje, Legal Advisor at Legal & Tax, “Whilst we will be celebrating national Women’s Day on 9 August, the festivities should not overshadow the darker reality faced by South African women and children. In fact, 9 August should focus purely on this problem. For the moment rather forget about any celebrations and let this date kick-start a more drastic intervention.”

Indeed, a more drastic intervention is definitely what’s needed. Merely consider some of the findings of research conducted by the Medical Research Council of South Africa:

Violence against women

“As an extreme consequence of partner violence, in South Africa the murder of women by husbands and boyfriends is rife with statistics showing us that half of women homicide victims are killed by their male partners.

“More alarming is that nearly 2 500 women have been murdered in South Africa every year, for the past six years. The overall female homicide rate (24,7 per 100 000) is six times higher than the global average.”

Violence against children

“More than a third of girls who participated in the research have experienced sexual violence (such as unwanted touching, forced sexual intercourse or being used for sexual acts by older men) before the age of 18.

“At least 40 per cent of the victims who report rape cases to the police are girls under 18, and 15 per cent are under the age of 12. At least 15 per cent of children also report times in their lives when one or both parents were unable to care for them due to negligence, and one in two children experience emotional abuse, neglect or witness violence against their mothers at home.

“However, what we don’t know is the amount of cases of violence that go unreported.”

According to a study done by the Institute for Security Studies, knowledge about the frequency and extent of violence against women and children in South Africa currently is based largely on police statistics, victim surveys and a series of estimates by NGOs working with survivors of violence.

Although there have been various attempts to determine the prevalence of domestic violence and sexual assault in this country, available statistics reflect only a small portion of cases. For example, it is estimated by the South African Police Service that only one out of every 35 rapes is reported to them.

“If only we knew the actual statistics of what’s happening in South Africa, perhaps then there will be a greater call to arms.”

Cronje adds that everyone has a responsibility to act and stop violence against women and children, “We all need to work with our communities, especially men and boys, to change the culture of violence and initiate prevention activities to support women and children. Crimes against women and children need to become a public issue with political and societal connotations, and require an adequate and effective response.”

“Most importantly, action starts with reminding ourselves that keeping quiet or turning a deaf ear is as much a crime as the crime we are ignoring. Ultimately, the scourge and epidemic of violence can be eliminated. It requires a multiplicity of interventions, including tightening the legal instruments, moral and political will, and society rallying against this violation of rights,” concludes Cronje.

Those who are aware of crimes committed against women and children are encouraged to seek help with the Legal & Tax team of professional legal advisors and trauma assist counsellors.

For more information visit https://www.legalandtax.co.za, call 0860 LTS LTS (587 587) or email info@legalandtax.co.za

References:

• The War @ Home, Medical Research Council of South Africa, 2010

• Preventing Rape and Violence, Medical Research Council of South Africa Policy Brief, November 2009

• Medical Research Council Research Brief, August 2012

• Violence Against Women in Metropolitan South Africa: A Study on Impact and Service Delivery, by Sandra Bollen & Lillian Artz, Institute for Security Studies, September 1999