Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation in Africa

Child Abuse

Sexual Exploitation in Africa

This 2 page document describes

	Case studies Appendix 2 (true story of how young girls are kidnapped and forced to use drugs and become prostitutes.
	Appendix 1 child slavery on farms.
	Child abuse in South Africa
	Sexual exploitation
	Organized crime and the abuse of children.
	The effects, apartheid had on our most vulnerable citizens.....children

If you were able to part the mists of time and gaze out over South Africa, as it existed during the time of the San hunters and Khoi-Khoi herders (native people of the region), with the lush vegetation, green pastures, abundance of food and a society free of colonialism. It would come as no surprise if you would remark: “What went wrong?”

From the first contact of colonialism and slavery, Africa was in a constant state of turmoil. Below is a list of events that followed and forever changed the fate of our children.

	The diamond and gold rush.
	Apartheid and the resistance, followed by the Sharpeville killings (see foot note below) massive violation of human rights, including detention with-out trial, which resulted in mysterious deaths (or shall I say murders) of some of the greatest freedom fighters in South African history.
	The eventual dismantling of apartheid which led to the eminent release of Mr. Nelson Mandela

After gaining political freedom in 1994 we said: “Free at last”. Free from the minority oppression and domination that ripped the heart and soul from millions of black South Africans.

This heralded a new beginning, the Rebirth of our nation. Never in our wildest dreams could we visualize, as a young democracy, the daunting challenges that we would face, with in our new dispensation. The displacement of huge quantities of people (GROUP AREAS ACT) resulted in the breakdown of economies and the dismantling of the family and community support systems. Our new government inherited huge debts from the previous regime, along with all the baggage incurred during Apartheid, namely:

	High unemployment rates
	Non-existent social welfare support
	Changing parenting patterns
	High levels of domestic violence
	Low levels of education
	High dropout rates at schools
	Lack of effective safety and protection services
	The breakdown of family structures.

The exploits of the past, culminated in our children becoming the most vulnerable within our society.AIDS_baby.gif

Statistics and rising crime levels clearly indicate that many young people leave home because their family environment became unstable or because there is desperate poverty. They turn to living on the streets with the idealistic expectations of a child, trying to escape the burdens of their family and township life. They do not anticipate the harsh realities that they are faced with on the streets.

Child prostitution in South Africa is usually a case of survival sex. Children are often forced to work because of economic circumstances – they have to contribute to the family’s income or provide for themselves.

Our children became the scatterings of South Africa. Organized crime syndicates and unscrupulous employers flourished under these conditions. This gave rise to increased child abuse and sexual exploitation.

	The production of pornography
	Hardcore sex
	Children being used as drug carriers
	The mistaken belief that having sex with a virgin will rid the perpetrator of HIV/AIDS.
	Children being used or trafficked for the use of their organs
	Children being made to work under inappropriate environments and conditions sweatshops, agriculture, domestic service, etc
	Sale of child brides
	Child prostitution
	Informal economy (hawkers and beggars)
	Children being murdered and gutted and their dead bodies used to courier drugs across country borders
	An increased demand for black children – especially from European and North American men, for sexual purposes

Other contributing factors include: Go to page 2 of 2

Foot note: The Sharpeville massacre took place on the 21st March 1960. Police opened fire on thousands of blacks, peacefully protesting against pass laws. Sixty nine people were brutally gunned downed and killed by the South African apartheid police force, a further 118 people were injured To view the full story click the link below apartheid_sharpeville_massacre.htm