August 2001 Insights Gender Violence Special Issue

Criminal justice? Tackling sexual abuse in schools

Decades of violent enforcement of apartheid policies have fuelled a culture of violence in South Africa. Girls are raped, sexually abused, harassed and assaulted at school by male classmates and male teachers. When governments and communities tolerate this in school environments, the message to men and boys is clear: violence and gender inequality is legitimate. How can schools begin to challenge the notion of violence as a societal norm? What can be done to ensure that sexually abused girls are not lost in the shuffle between school officials, police and persecutors?

A recent Human Rights Watch report extensively documents the scope and scale of sexual violence in South African schools and the discriminatory impact on girls' education and health. Girls of every race and economic class encounter violence and harassment at school. Although male students are the main perpetrators, abuse by teachers and other staff is also widespread. Important findings are:

• male teachers may sexually proposition girls and degrade them with highly sexualised language, sometimes reinforcing demands with threats of physical violence or corporal punishment
• male teachers bribe girls for sexual favours with promises of better grades and reports
• sexual relations with students are regarded by some male teachers as fringe benefits to compensate for low levels of pay
• cultural practices giving girls a subordinate status increase their vulnerability to adult power
• poverty, deprivation, and fear of retaliation make it difficult for girls to resist or complain when sexually propositioned
• sexual involvement with a teacher may even be encouraged by parents keen to be free of the financial burden of their child's education.

Girls of every race and economic class encounter violence and harassment at school.

Who is responsible for tackling cases of abuse? School officials, police, and prosecutors often shift responsibility to each other leaving perpetrators unpunished. However, the report finds that there is increasing interest amongst educators in finding solutions to gender violence and that opportunities for change do exist within South Africa. It is clear that the government needs to develop a proactive, coordinated, system-wide response involving schools, police, the judiciary, medical and legal systems. This can be achieved by ensuring that:

• schools are provided with guidelines detailing appropriate responses to allegations of rape, sexual assault or harassment by fellow pupils and staff
• school procedures are accessible so that pupils can make confidential complaints that will be investigated promptly and effectively
• prompt and appropriate disciplinary action is taken and teachers facing allegations are suspended pending the outcome of prosecution
• those convicted are not permitted to teach anywhere in the South African school system
• teachers, trainee teachers, pupils, parents and local communities are all included in educational initiatives to put an end to sexual violence and harassment
• education and training is provided for pupils and staff on issues related to sexual violence, harassment and gender discrimination.