Feature Stories: Child Sexual Abuse

Fifteenyears after the abolition of apartheid, South Africa faces a new crisis: an epidemic of child sexual abuse, a silent war being waged against children. Although there have been improvements in South African society, the challenges have created escalating needs and child protection services are struggling to deliver an effective service with limited resources. Child sexual abuse is a global issue and one that transcends all boundaries - it permeates every race, religious and socio-economic group. This is an ongoing project that Mariella has been working on since 2002. Because of the nature of the crimes, all the children's identities have remained concealed. (* FCS unit = Police Family Violence, Child Protection, Sex Offences Unit)