Written by: Anne Symon & Natasha Budhram
While South Africa has been applauded for their progressive constitution, Gender-based violence is still a growing issue. According to the Annual Crime Statistics of 2019/2020, 24,000 South African children are sexually assaulted each year. While national leaders publicly condemn the violence perpetuated against young girls, South Africa has been referred to the rape capital of the world, which raises questions on whether real changes are being made on a systemic level to combat such violence. South Africa is currently leading the world in reported incidents of child sexual abuse, yet many incidents go unreported due to lack of trust in the police system or belief that justice will be served. Furthermore, the lack of resources and the violent nature of the crimes contribute to the high rates that the offenders are able to get away with such evil acts.
Poor young women are at the greatest risk of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa which is deeply tied to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country. Many South African women living in poverty do not have access to microcredit, sexual education, or HIV medication to improve their status therefore the cycle of harm perpetuated. When offered economic assistance and access to microloans, it is found that economic stability provided young women with a general confidence that allowed them to challenge traditional gender norms and fight against oppressive systems. Once provided with education on what sexual violence is, how to report it, and how to prevent HIV, young women are able to improve their status.
To learn more about Sexual Abuse in South Africa, click HERE
To learn more about Gender-Based Violence in South Africa, click HERE
This is the situation of children in South Africa
A recent UNICEF article states, “As one child sets off to school, dressed in a crisp new uniform and polished shoes, another knocks on a car window at a traffic light, asking for money. As one child rises to prepare for school, another has already been walking for three hours to get there on time. As one sick child is given medical attention in time, another dies on the back of their mother who arrived at a health clinic too late.”
A statistic from Global Citizen states that 10 billionaires own more than 200 million African women combined. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. This is because of inequality. This is the case especially in South Africa where inequality is at its highest. Children make up about under 40 percent of the South African population and more than half of these children live in poverty. There are less resources available for children from low-income settings and this is where violence happens, because there is no psychosocial support given to parents and children, especially women.
Unemployment leads to domestic violence, abuse and neglect because of inequality, injustice and lack of distribution of opportunity. Children who live in poverty in South Africa should be supported at home where parents can ask them questions about their lives. Getting to know each other on a deeper level within communities and families as well as being empathetic enough to see warning signs in children can aid in the distress of children in under-resourced societies. This cannot happen without the right tools and access to services such as psychosocial support. Whilst this is done in some communities through interventions from local schools and projects.
In South Africa, there is poor access to quality education, leaving children and youth with no choice but to be on streets or work by way of child labour. What about quality healthcare? This is not available. Because of poor government service delivery to impoverished communities, NGO’s, educational institutions and other community clubs, cannot be of service alone. We need the help of individuals, government and corporations. High net-worth individuals can be accountable and share their riches with the poor. Governments need to strategically spend more money on Early Childhood Development and under resourced crèches and schools.
Global Fund for Girls is a Global Network where partnerships with International NGOs and other organizations are critical to serving global communities, girls, allied organizations, in order to advance and support the advocacy movement. We are a hub of knowledge sharing so that we can influence activism and create positive change through collaboration and advocacy. We look at local partnerships in many countries throughout the world and in South Africa where we can partner through grants, capacity building, virtual assistance and resource development through our toolkits.
How YOU can help!
By joining our mailing list, following us on socials, or by making a donation to Global Funds for Girls – which supports South African grantees fighting for change for girls of color – you can take an active step in advocating for an end to Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Abuse of Girls in South Africa and around the world. It all starts with a conversation, visit the links below to get started with us!