Two days after President Cyril Ramaphosa held the Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), the Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu, will – as part of embracing and promoting child protection services, launch the Disrupting Harm Report in partnership with ECPAT, at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, on Friday, 04 November. 

The Summit called for inclusion of the 7th Pillar into the NSP-GBVF focusing on gender-based violence and children. To improve child participation on gender-based violence related matters, there was also a proposal at the Summit that children should be part of the envisaged GBVF Council, which is a step in the right direction to improve child protection systems in the country.

ECPAT is an international network of Civil Society Organisations which seeks to protect every child’s right to grow up free from sexual exploitation and trafficking through legislative advocacy, education, and partnerships. The organisation is also responsible for ending the sexual exploitation of children focusing on halting the online sexual exploitation and trafficking of children for sexual purposes and exploitation.

Amongst other issues, this groundbreaking report reveals that social taboos and stigma around discussing sex may increase children’s vulnerability to online sexual exploitation and abuse. 

According to the survey conducted ECPAT, 48 out of 49 frontline workers believe that; “taboos around discussing sex and sexuality are a key factor for increasing children’s vulnerability to online sexual exploitation and abuse.” 

In addition, according to 65% of the surveyed frontline workers, the stigma associated with victims of sexual violence is the main reason why children do not report online sexual exploitation and abuse.  

While discomfort in discussing sexual abuse may play a part on children’s online sexual exploitation and abuse, the report also found that there is a lack of formal reporting from children. This also leads to lack of knowledge about online child sexual abuse and exploitation amongst parents. 

As prevention remains key, the report, further calls for more action from the government to enforce existing legislation around online child sexual exploitation and abuse. 

This, the report says, can be realised by engaging in awareness raising programmes and campaigns to increase the general public’s understanding of online child sexual exploitation and abuse matters.

Source: Government of South Africa