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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for sexual abuse
63 results foundAuthor: New Zealand. Ministry of Women's Affairs Title: Restoring Soul: Effective Interventions for Adult Victim/Survivors of Sexual Violence Summary: This report is one of five from the Ministry of Women's Affairs' Sexual Violence Research Project. This overview report combines the findings that emerged from four interrelated research projects and considers the implications from a research perspective. The report focuses on 'what works' for adult survivors of sexual violence. Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Women's Affairs, 2009. 89p. Source: Year: 2009 Country: New Zealand URL: Shelf Number: 117772 Keywords: Sexual AbuseSexual ViolenceVictims |
Author: Taylor, P. Title: The Cost of Child Abuse in Australia Summary: In this report, the costs to the Australian economy and society of the abuse of children and young people aged 0 to 17 years are assessed, with five main types of child abuse covered -- physical, emotional and psychological, sexual abuse, neglect and witness of (or knowledge of) family violence. Details: Melbourne: Australian Childhood Foundation and Child Abuse Prevention Research Australia, 2008. 176p. Source: Year: 2008 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 113245 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentCosts of CrimeFamily ViolenceSexual Abuse |
Author: French, Brian Title: Experience of Sexual Violence and Abuse: Findings from the 2008/09 Northern Ireland Crime Survey Summary: This bulletin draws on findings from the 2008/09 Northern Ireland Crime Survey, a continuous, representative, personal interview survey of the experiences and perceptions of crime of 3,856 adults living in private households throughout Northern Ireland. The findings present estimates of the prevalence of sexual violence among women and men in Northern Ireland, from childhood to adulthood. It also provides insights into who has been victimized, who the perpetrators were, the context in which the abuse occurred, the impact of the abuse on the lives of those who had been victimized, and the patterns of disclosure of the abuse to others. Details: Belfast: Northern Ireland Office, Statistics and Research Branch, 2009. 36p. Source: Research and Statistical Bulletin 9/2009 Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 117668 Keywords: Crime StatisticsSex OffendersSex OffensesSexual AbuseSexual ViolenceVictimization Surveys |
Author: Reichert, Jessica Title: Victimization and Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Female Prisoners in Illinois Summary: The number of women in prison has increased both statewide and nationally in recent decades. Most females in state prisons are incarcerated for drug or property offenses. Research has revealed that incarcerated women often have histories of being abused and that many are dealing with mental health issues or substance abuse. This study examines female victimization across the life course of women at three female-only Illinois Department of Corrections facilities. A random sample of 163 inmates was interviewed, and interview questions concentrated on participants' histories of substance abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, stalking and emotional abuse, trauma, and help-seeking strategies related to these issues. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2010. 64p. Source: Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118302 Keywords: Child AbuseEmotional AbuseFemale InmatesSexual AbuseStalkingSubstance AbuseVictimization |
Author: Parkinson, Patrick Title: Study of Reported Child Sexual Abuse in the Anglican Church Summary: This report discusses the nature and extent of reported child sexual abuse by clergy and church workers, including volunteers, since 1990 in the Anglican Church of Australia. The aims of the research study were to: 1) understand the characteristics of accused persons and complainants and the circumstances of the offense; 2) ascertain patterns of abuse in relation to similarities or differences in gender and age of the child complainants; and 3) inform the Church on what steps could be taken towards better prevention of sexual abuse within church communities. Details: Melbourne: Anglican Church of Melbourne, 2009. 61p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 115658 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse (Australia)Sex OffendersSexual Abuse |
Author: Family and Children's Trust Fund of Virginia Title: Violence at Home: The FACT Report Summary: This report measures the prevalence and interrelatedness of violence in families, ranging from infants to the elderly, and how often the incidences occur by locality in Virginia. The report includes the following family violence issues: child abuse and neglect, elder abuse, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. Details: Richmond, VA: The Family & Children's Trust Fund of Virginia, 2010. 46p., app. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119387 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectElder AbuseFamily Violence (Virginia)Sexual Abuse |
Author: O'Brien, Wendy Title: Australia's Response to Sexualised or Sexually Abusive Behaviours in Children and Young People Summary: Responding to children and young people with sexualised or sexual offending behaviours presents significant challenges across the allied health, child protection, education and juvenile justice sectors. This report maps the specialised therapeutic services designed to effect positive behavioural change and thus divert young people with sexualised behaviours from the juvenile justice system. Accurate numbers on children with sexualised or sexual offending behaviours are difficult to determine. Recent Australian research cites international data to estimate that sexual abuse by children or young people constitutes between 40 and 90 per cent of sexual offending against children. Even the lower estimate belies the generally held assumption that perpetrators of child sexual assault are adult males. Young people are responsible for a significant proportion of sex offences against children, a fact that continues to go largely unknown. There are several factors contributing to this gap in understanding. These include entrenched ideals about children as inherently innocent, widespread ignorance about developmental sexuality, and the tendency of both young people and parents to deny or minimise incidents when they do occur. In Australia, data on children with sexualised behaviours are not collected uniformly and non-disclosure contributes to what might be large numbers of offences going undetected. Mandatory reporting requirements apply where children display sexualised behaviours and are thought to be at risk of harm. Yet a general lack of knowledge as to what constitutes appropriate behaviour means that many may respond inappropriately to incidents of sexualised behaviours. This context of confusion, denial and non-disclosure creates a hidden population of children that continues to be at risk. Attention to redressing the contexts for non-disclosure is urgently required to ensure that children in need are provided with specialised therapeutic care. Scholars and clinicians agree that the ‘earliest possible intervention’ leads to the best rehabilitative outcomes for the young people involved. Clinical studies indicate that recidivism rates are low where a full program of specialised counselling is completed. Despite these positive findings, there are a number of key challenges to the comprehensive provision of tertiary services to young people who have sexualised behaviours. This report presents qualitative data from interviews with specialised clinicians as well as submissions from service providers in both community and youth justice settings. In mapping the availability of therapeutic services, this report highlights a number of geographic and demographic gaps in service provision, including difficulties with eligibility criteria, referral pathways, funding arrangements and specialised workforce development. The intention of this research is to ascertain what therapeutic services were being delivered to all Australian children, including programs designed to reduce the numbers of Indigenous children before the courts on charges of sexual assault. Details: Canberra: Australian Crime Commission, 2010. 116p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 119458 Keywords: Juvenile Sex OffendersSex Offender TreatmentSexual AbuseSexual Assault |
Author: Harrell, Margaret C. Title: A Compendium of Sexual Assault Research Summary: This volume summarizes recent studies on sexual assault that are deemed useful and relevant to the U.S. Department of Defense and other policymakers interested in sexual assault issues. Entries include a brief overview of the prevalence and effects of sexual assault, and of important events and laws pertaining to sexual assault in both the civilian and military sectors. The compendium's annotated bibliography includes summaries of more than 450 studies of sexual assault. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2009. 319p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 14, 2010 at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2009/RAND_TR617.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/2009/RAND_TR617.pdf Shelf Number: 117555 Keywords: Date RapeRapeSex OffendersSex OffensesSexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Amnesty International Title: Breaking the Silence: Sexual Violence in Cambodia Summary: Reports of women and girls being raped are on the increase in Cambodia. Amid a culture of impunity, victims have limited access to justice and the acute lack of medical services and psychological support reflects social attitudes to rape and other sexual violence. This report exposes how corruption and discrimination within the police and courts prevent survivors of rape from receiving justice and the necessary assistance. Amnesty International calls on the Cambodian government to firmly address inadequate law enforcement, extrajudicial settlements, weak prosecution and widespread corruption in cases of suspected sexual violence. Details: London: Amnesty International Publications, 2010. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 9, 2010 at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA23/001/2010/en/17ebf558-95f0-4cf8-98c1-3f052ffb9603/asa230012010en.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Cambodia URL: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA23/001/2010/en/17ebf558-95f0-4cf8-98c1-3f052ffb9603/asa230012010en.pdf Shelf Number: 118417 Keywords: RapeSexual AbuseSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Stacey, Lisa Title: Whose Child Now? Fifteen Years of Working to Prevent the Sexual Exploitation of Children in the UK Summary: This report describes some of the key issues for children affected by sexual exploitation in the UK. Fifteen years on, this report explores the continuing hidden nature of the problem and describes what Barnardo’s is doing today, while suggesting what action still remains to be taken to further protect exploited children and young people. Details: Ilford, UK: Barnardo's, 2009. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2010 at: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/whose_child_now.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/whose_child_now.pdf Shelf Number: 119848 Keywords: 129907Human TraffickingProstitutionRunawaysSexual AbuseSexual Exploitation |
Author: Cahill, Meagan Title: Sex Abuse in the District of Columbia: Patterns and Trends, 2000-2009 Summary: While the use official statistics to understand sexual offenses presents a number of challenges, an analysis of data from the last decade (2000—2009) in Washington, D.C. reveals some interesting patterns. A long-term downward trend in reports of forcible rape since 1960 stabilized in recent years. More recently (2000—2009), the number of sex abuse reports was volatile with no clear pattern of increase or decline. Police districts 6D and 7D accounted for a disproportionate share of the city’s sex abuse reports, a pattern that may have begun to change at the very end of the series, at least in 7D. Details: Washington, DC: District of Columbia Crime Policy Institute, 2010. 3p. Source: Internet Resource: Brief, No. 4: Accessed October 18, 2010 at: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/1001453-dcpi-sexual-abuse-brief.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/1001453-dcpi-sexual-abuse-brief.pdf Shelf Number: 119999 Keywords: Crime StatisticsRapeSexual AbuseSexual Assault |
Author: American Bar Association. Latin America & Caribbean Law Initiative Title: Trafficking in Persons in Ecuador: Assessment One, September to December 2004 Summary: In June 2004 the American Bar Association’s Latin America Law Initiative (ABA/LALIC) held a conference on Trafficking in Persons in Cuenca, Ecuador, with support from the U.S. Embassy and co-sponsorship from the Supreme Court of Ecuador and the National Council of the Judiciary. The results collected from the discussions in the break out groups and the plenary sessions all demonstrated the need, as expressed by the conference attendees, for a practical assessment of the situation in country. The Ecuadorians suggested that the assessment focus on: 1) How the problem is defined and perceived; 2) the realities and challenges facing Ecuador; 3) planning guidelines and priorities, and 4) strategies for a workable plan. This project set out to conduct an assessment that will serve as a guide for the development and planning of the project. The major goals of this assessment are to: 1) identify organizations around the country working on trafficking and trafficking related issues; 2) identify the major trends/themes in the trafficking and anti-trafficking activities; 3) identify gaps in service, public policy and see how they relate to the existing legislative framework, and finally to 4) develop recommendations for the project. With this in mind, the report is divided into three main components: Part I of the assessment looks at the economic and social underpinnings of the country to give context to the reasons why trafficking in persons is gaining strength in Ecuador. Part II of the assessment discusses important themes that surround the actual trafficking in persons. These themes include the nature of the problem; where trafficking is most prevalent and why; defining who is a victim; pinpointing some of the underlying causes; and exploring the legislative gaps that hamstring effective prosecution. Part III of the assessment takes the information gathered and presented in this document and sets out the recommendations according to the three “p’s” (Prevention, Prosecution and Protection). Details: Chicago: Latin America & Caribbean Law Initiative, 2005(?). 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 9, 2010 at: http://www.abanet.org/rol/publications/ecuador_tips_assessment_final.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Ecuador URL: http://www.abanet.org/rol/publications/ecuador_tips_assessment_final.pdf Shelf Number: 120271 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseChild TraffickingHuman Trafficking (Ecuador)Sexual AbuseSexual Exploitation |
Author: Reichert, Jessica Title: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Victimization Among Female Prisoners in Illinois Summary: This research study involved interviews with 163 randomly-selected female inmates in the general population at Illinois Department of Corrections’ facilities. This is the second in a series of reports by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (Authority) on victimization among female prison inmates. Prevalence of and types of prior victimization among study respondents was explored. Study participants were asked questions on prior victimization in their lives and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were gauged with the PTSD Symptoms Checklist (PCL). This study shares the level and correlates of female inmate PTSD symptomology. Participants’ PTSD scores were then correlated with other factors: Demographics; Offense type and criminal histories; Sentence length; Prior abuse types (physical, sexual, and intimate partner emotional abuse); The number of prior abuse types; Specific prior abuse violations; Number of prior abuse violations; Severity of abuse; and Drug and alcohol abuse. The information presents a contextual picture of PTSD symptomology for female prison inmates, which can impact basic functioning, including the ability to prevent further criminal involvement, maintain a job, enjoy healthy relationships, and avoid abusing drugs and alcohol. This report offers support for the utilization of a standardized assessment of trauma for offender populations, as other studies have found that trauma scores significantly predict future criminal offending, as well as risky sexual behavior for adolescent females. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2010. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 14, 2010 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/PTSD_Female_Prisoners_Report_1110.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/ResearchReports/PTSD_Female_Prisoners_Report_1110.pdf Shelf Number: 120506 Keywords: Female Inmates (Illinois)Post-Traumatic Stress DisorderSexual Abuse |
Author: European Commission Title: Violence Against Women and the Role of Gender Equality, Social Inclusion and Health Strategies Summary: The purpose of this study is to provide a systematic analysis and insight into the social aspects of violence against women, considering all types of violence (e.g. physical, psychological and sexual) and focusing primarily on analysis of gender equality, social inclusion and health strategies, as well as the action plans available to combat violence, and paying specific attention to the three angles of prevention, treatment, and reintegration of victims into society. The goal is to present a clear picture of what takes place in these domains within the 27 Member States, the three EEA/EFTA countries and the three candidate countries (Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey). The information in this report was mainly provided by the national experts of the EGGSI network of experts in gender equality, social inclusion, healthcare and long-term care. The report is organised in three chapters: the first summarises the main features of violence against women in Europe. The second chapter gives an overview of policies addressing violence against women from the perspective of prevention, support for the victim and social reintegration. The final chapter presents some general conclusions. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010. 212p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2011 at: ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=6336&langId=en Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 120721 Keywords: Battered WomenSexual AbuseSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Esfahani, Asal Title: Countering Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Liberia Summary: More than three years after former president Charles Taylor relinquished power ending a 14 year bloody civil war, Liberia is at a pivotal point of transitioning from a post-conflict emergency setting towards reconstruction and development. However, the alarmingly high incidence of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of the most vulnerable populations in Liberia poses a significant threat to the success of development efforts. SEA perpetuates subsistence behavior and renders victims utterly dependent on others for their survival; it increases unwanted pregnancy and school drop-out rates, facilitates the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs and perpetuates societal trauma. Consequently, the government of Liberia, in collaboration with UN agencies, international and local NGOs and Liberian citizens has launched a nation-wide awareness-raising campaign against SEA, and many organizations are currently working to sensitize the mass population in order to counter widespread tolerance of this harmful practice. However, the cycle of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable groups persists at every level of Liberian society. This paper presents an exploratory study of the current state of SEA in Liberia. Our research seeks to determine the causes of SEA in Liberia, evaluate current responses to the problem and identify gaps in existing mechanisms to alleviate the problem. While sexual exploitation and abuse occurs throughout the world and at all levels of society, it is most prevalent in countries affected by poverty and conflict. In line with this, this paper proposes three root causes of SEA in Liberia: poverty, societal trauma and unregulated power differentials. Details: Washington, DC: George Washington University, 2007. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 24, 2011 at: http://www.gwu.edu/~oid/Capstone/2007%20Capstone/Countering%20Sexual%20Exploitation-Liberia.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Liberia URL: http://www.gwu.edu/~oid/Capstone/2007%20Capstone/Countering%20Sexual%20Exploitation-Liberia.pdf Shelf Number: 120871 Keywords: Sexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual Exploitation (Liberia)Violence Against Women |
Author: PSEA In Country Network - Liberia Title: Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Liberia: A Case Study Summary: In an effort to combat Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), the United Nations in Liberia has taken measures to prevent, report, and investigate SEA cases, and to impose sanctions against the perpetrators. One such measure was the development of the In-Country Network (ICN). The ICN is a network of representatives from the United Nations and international NGOs that serves as the primary body for coordination and oversight on prevention and response to SEA among the humanitarian community. Since its establishment in 2005, the ICN in Liberia has taken steps to ensure enhanced accountability, coordination, and communication relating to the prevention and response to cases of SEA by personnel working for the UN, its affiliated partners, international NGOs and other humanitarian assistance workers. Working in close collaboration with the government of Liberia and local partners, the ICN in Liberia has enjoyed a significant level of success in setting up mechanisms to implement international standards and policies relating to the prevention of SEA, not the least of which are the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse ST/SGB/2003/13 and the Statement of Commitment on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN and Non-UN Personnel. The innovative approach taken in Liberia is a result of several enabling factors such as the country’s relatively small size and population, the Government's prioritization of the issue, a strong UN presence, and the large local and international civil society presence. Despite some of the specific conditions of the Liberian context, the Liberia approach to prevention and response to SEA can be adapted to other post-conflict and development settings. This case study highlights several areas of good practice that can be replicated. Details: Monrovia, Liberia: PSEA In Country Network - Liberia, 2008. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 24, 2011 at: http://www.un.org/en/pseataskforce/docs/prevention_and_response_to_sexual_exploitation_and_buse_in_l.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Liberia URL: http://www.un.org/en/pseataskforce/docs/prevention_and_response_to_sexual_exploitation_and_buse_in_l.pdf Shelf Number: 120872 Keywords: Sexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual Exploitation (Liberia)Violence Against Women |
Author: Disability Rights California, Investigations Unit Title: Vitimized Twice: Abuse of Nursing Home Residents, No Criminal Accountability for Perpetrators Summary: Nursing homes have become an indelible part of our health care landscape. These facilities provide 24 hour inpatient skilled nursing and supportive care to residents whose disability or condition necessitate the availability of skilled nursing care on an extended basis. It is estimated that over 40% of Americans will use a nursing home at some point in their lives and, as the population of individuals 65 years of age and older grows, the demand for skilled nursing care is not expected to decrease in the next two decades. Unfortunately, the United States General Accounting Office and others confirm that nursing home residents are often victimized by the very caregivers with whom they are entrusted. Much of the abuse rises to the level of criminal conduct. Yet, few cases are reported to or investigated by law enforcement and even fewer are criminally prosecuted. Simply put, crimes against nursing home residents are less likely to be reported, investigated, and prosecuted than crimes against individuals living in the community. They are often treated as licensing or administrative matters and not as crimes. It is time to highlight and address biases and lapses in the abuse response system to ensure that nursing home residents are provided equal access to the criminal justice system and equal protection from criminal abuse by caregivers. This report describes 12 cases of physical and sexual abuse of nursing home residents by caregivers and traces the handling of these crimes through California’s abuse response and criminal justice systems. The cases were gleaned from licensing citation reports issued by the State’s Department of Public Health (DPH) which confirmed the facts and determined the facility was liable for resident abuse. Details: Sacramento: Disability Rights California, 2010. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/548801.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/pubs/548801.pdf Shelf Number: 120898 Keywords: Elder Abuse (California)Elderly Victims of CrimeNursing HomesSexual Abuse |
Author: Beatbullying Title: Child-on-Child Violence in the UK: A Retrospective Survey Summary: This report indicates that more than a third (37%) of young people report having suffered a severe physical or sexual attack during childhood by a fellow young person – over a quarter of which involved the use of a weapon. The severity of bullying is significant, 52 per cent having sustained physical injuries from the attack, 28 per cent threatened with a weapon and almost a tenth (7%) knocked unconscious, reported the 16 – 25 years olds questioned. A further quarter of those respondents who had suffered child-on-child violence were subjected to a sexual attack by a peer; of these victims 19 per cent were young girls. The research details the emotional and social implications of bullying, revealing that of those who suffered child-on-child violence 15 per cent were also in trouble with the police, compared to just four per cent who were not under any physical attack. Details: London: Beatbullying, 2011. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2011 at: http://www2.beatbullying.org//pdfs/CoCV%20Evaluation.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www2.beatbullying.org//pdfs/CoCV%20Evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 121750 Keywords: Bullying (U.K.)Juvenile OffendersPeer ViolenceSexual AbuseSibling Violence |
Author: Terry, Karen J. Title: The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010 Summary: This report outlines the results of an empirically based study of the causes and context of the phenomenon of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests in the United States between 1950 and 2010. The study sought to understand why the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests occurred as it did by integrating research from sociocultural, psychological, situational, and organizational perspectives. Details: Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2011. 152p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 19, 2011 at: http://www.usccb.org/mr/causes-and-context-of-sexual-abuse-of-minors-by-catholic-priests-in-the-united-states-1950-2010.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.usccb.org/mr/causes-and-context-of-sexual-abuse-of-minors-by-catholic-priests-in-the-united-states-1950-2010.pdf Shelf Number: 121758 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseClergyReligionSexual Abuse |
Author: Caponera, Betty Title: Sex Crime Trends in New Mexica: An Analysis of Data from The New Mexico Interpersonal Violence Data Central Repository 2005-2009 Summary: This report includes an analysis of 2009 sex crimes data from the New Mexico Interpersonal Violence Data Central Repository, which includes findings from law enforcement, service providers and statewide Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) units. It also includes findings of a four-year trend analysis on data from law enforcement and service provider agencies, and a first-time five-year trends analysis on data from statewide SANE programs. Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Interpersonal Violence Data Central Repository, 2010. 248p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2011 at: http://www.cvrc.state.nm.us/pdf/Sex%20Crimes%202009%20Report%20Aug2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.cvrc.state.nm.us/pdf/Sex%20Crimes%202009%20Report%20Aug2010.pdf Shelf Number: 121921 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseInterpersonal ViolenceSex Offenses (New Mexico)Sexual AbuseSexual Assault |
Author: Kernaghan, Charles Title: Sexual Predators and Serial Rapists Run Wild at Wal-Mart Supplier in Jordan. Young women workers raped, tortured and beaten at the Classic Factory Summary: According to witnesses who work at Classic Fashion, scores of young Sri Lankan women sewing clothing for Wal-Mart and Hanes have suffered routine sexual abuse and repeated rapes, and in some cases even torture. One young rape victim at the Classic factory in Jordan told us her assailant, a manager, bit her, leaving scars all over her body. Women who become pregnant are forcibly deported and returned to Sri Lanka. Women who refuse the sexual advances of Classic's managers are also beaten and deported. Classic, the largest garment export factory in Jordan, sews clothing for Wal-Mart, Hanes, Kohl's, Target and Macy's. The garments enter the U.S. duty-free under the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement. On the weekly holiday, the alleged serial rapist general manager, Anil Santha, sends a van to bring four or five young women to his hotel, where he abuses them. The lives of the young Sri Lankan rape victims are completely shattered, as in their culture, virginity is highly prized and critical for a good marriage. In October 2010, 2,400 Sri Lankan and Indian workers went on strike demanding the removal of the alleged rapist, Anil. Classic's owner, Sanal Kumar, sent Anil away, but he returned after one month. Through the Institute/National Labor Committee's reports, the Ministry of Labor has been made aware of the sexual abuse as early as 2007, but has done nothing. The standard shift at Classic is 13 hours a day, six and seven days a week, with some 18 ½ hour shifts before the clothing must be shipped to the U.S. According to witness testimonies, workers are routinely cursed at, hit and shortchanged of their wages for failing to reach their mandatory production goals. To press the women to work faster, managers grope and fondle them. The workers - who are from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Egypt, earn a take-home wage of just 61 cents an hour. The workers are housed in primitive dorms lacking heat or hot water, but which are infested with bed bugs. The women have extremely limited freedom of movement and are allowed to leave the factory compound just one day a week for six hours. When they are forced to work through their weekly holiday, they may be allowed out just once or twice a month. The minimal efforts of Wal-Mart, Hanes and the other labels to monitor factory conditions at Classic have failed completely. Workers are threatened by management and forced to say that conditions are good. We are strongly urging representatives of the labels to join us in Jordan on Friday, June 17 for a large meeting with the Classic workers. It is our intention, along with the United Steelworkers and our women's rights colleagues in Sri Lanka, to rescue the women who have been victimized and return them safely home to their families. We expect Wal-Mart, Hanes and the other labels to pay significant compensation to the rape victims to restore some dignity to their lives. This is the least they can do. The U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement has also failed over the last ten years to protect the basic rights of the 30,000 foreign guest workers sewing garments for export to the U.S. One Bangladeshi worker recently deported from the Classic factory told us today that, "all the workers of Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh...everybody will testify that Anil raped the Sri Lankan women. Everybody knows. In a safe place, the workers will testify." Preface Details: Pittsburgh, PA: Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, 2011. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 2, 2011 at: http://www.globallabourrights.org/admin/reports/files/Content-Classic-0607-final.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Jordan URL: http://www.globallabourrights.org/admin/reports/files/Content-Classic-0607-final.pdf Shelf Number: 122251 Keywords: Female VictimsRapeSexual AbuseSexual Assault, Workers (Jordan) |
Author: Generation Five Title: Toward Transformative Justice: A Liberatory Approach to Child Sexual Abuse and other forms of Intimate and Community Violence. A Call to Action for the Left and the Sexual and Domestic Violence Sectors Summary: This paper offers a substantive discussion on the liberatory politic of Transformative Justice. Transformative Justice, as defined in this paper, is premised on the idea that individual justice and collective liberation are equally important, mutually supportive, and fundamentally intertwined — the achievement of one is impossible without the achievement of the other. We believe that Transformative Justice presents us with a politic and model to heal the trauma of past violence, reduce the level of violence we experience, and mobilize masses of people. Transformative Justice is a response to the State’s inability to provide justice on either individual or collective levels. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a model that responds to experiences of violence without relying on current State systems. We believe this to be a liberating politic that creates opportunities for healing and transformation rather than retribution and punishment. Transformative Justice moves us toward equity and liberation rather than maintaining the inequality that the current State and systems maintain. The development of the Transformative Justice model is rooted in Generation FIVE’s substantive work on the personal and the political realities of child sexual abuse. One of the most intimate, stigmatized, and demonized forms of violence, child sexual abuse continues to be pervasive and persistent across nations, ‘race’, class, religions, and cultures. For a variety of reasons, including the State’s inability to create solutions that families and communities will use, people rarely report child sexual abuse. When they do report, they do not get the justice, safety, or change they seek. In addition to the State’s inability to address the needs of those who have been sexually abused, future violence is not prevented due to the lack of opportunities for transformation of individuals, relationships, families, or communities. As a result of this and the lack of viable alternatives, rates of child sexual abuse remain epidemic. This paper focuses on ways to secure both individual and social justice in cases of child sexual abuse. We assert that Transformative Justice is a way not only to address incidents of abuse but also to prevent further abuse by working on the social conditions that perpetuate and are perpetuated by child sexual abuse. Transformative Justice is also about building the capacity of individuals and collectives to address larger conditions of inequality and injustice as well as to challenge State violence. Section One explains Transformative Justice and argues the need for liberatory approaches to violence, in particular child sexual abuse. This section speaks to the urgency of addressing child sexual abuse as part of our liberation struggles, both as a specific form of violence that reflects and perpetuates multiple forms of oppression and as one that is exploited by the Right. A liberatory approach to child sexual abuse uniquely positions us to resist this exploitation. Section Two describes in detail the core principles of a Transformative Justice model. These include: liberation, shifting power, safety, accountability, collective action, honoring diversity and sustainability. Section Three proposes a set of practices to address child sexual abuse in a transformative way. Practices of Transformative Justice include: building a Collective, preparation and capacity building, naming and defining child sexual abuse, conducting assessment, developing a safety strategy, supporting healing and resilience, holding accountability, working for community transformation as well as strengthening collective resistance. The Conclusion offers next steps toward integrating Transformative Justice into intimate, activist and community networks, as well as mass-base and community organizations and the sexual and domestic violence sectors. Details: San Francisco: Generation Five, 2007. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2011 at: http://www.generationfive.org/downloads/G5_Toward_Transformative_Justice.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.generationfive.org/downloads/G5_Toward_Transformative_Justice.pdf Shelf Number: 122798 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseRestorative JusticeSexual AbuseTransformative JusticeVictims of Sexual Abuse |
Author: Goodlin, Wendi E. Title: Not Your Typical "Pretty Woman": Factors Associated with Prostitution Summary: Criminologists have long been interested in sex work, particularly prostitution. However, the research in this area has been very uneven and has produced conflicting results. The goal of the current research is to move forward in filling the gaps in our knowledge of the lives of women involved in prostitution and to better understand the factors associated with their initial involvement. Three sociological theories guide the analysis: general strain theory, control theory, and social learning theory. The major hypotheses predict that experiencing sexual abuse and exposure to delinquent peers increase the odds of prostitution whereas high levels of parental attachment and supervision decrease the odds of prostitution. These relationships are examined further using mediating and moderating variables, including running away from home, psychological distress, and drug use. The data upon which this research is based come from The Ohio Lifecourse Study (OLS), a multi-wave dataset of household and institutionalized respondents. Variables central to the analysis come from items that ask how often the respondent has been paid to have sex and a variety of other items that measure contentious family environment, sexual abuse experienced as a child, parental supervision and attachment levels, the influence of peers, their self-esteem and depression levels, and the use and abuse of drugs. Importantly, although the OLS is a highly delinquent sample, it is not a prostitute-biased sample. In addition, the OLS contains a variety of respondents, including those not involved in prostitution, prostitutes who were abused as adolescents, those who were also abused as adolescents but did are not prostitutes, and those of different races. Thus, although the sample is highly delinquent, there is much variation among respondents on key variables including abuse, supervision, running away, and drug use/abuse to name a few. Furthermore, because the OLS contains both quantitative data and qualitative life history narratives, the latter serve as an important supplement to the former and provide rich and nuanced detail not obtainable from the quantitative analyses. Binary logistic regression analyses show support for the hypothesis that higher levels of sexual abuse increase the odds of prostitution (strain theory), but this relationship is not mediated by running away as argued in previous research. On the other hand, there is little support for the hypothesis that higher levels of parental attachment decrease the odds of prostitution (social control theory); however, this could be a result of the sample being highly delinquent or the lack of variation among respondents on the parental attachment variables. In contrast, there is evidence that higher levels of supervision decrease the odds of prostitution (social control theory). In addition, there is support for the hypothesis that those with delinquent friends have higher odds of prostitution than those without delinquent friends (social learning theory). Moreover, there is support for racial and job status differences. For example, blacks have consistently and significantly higher odds of prostitution than whites and those who are unemployed or employed part-time have consistently and significantly higher odds of prostitution than those with full time jobs. Finally, with the exception of parental caring and trust, most of the moderating variables are not found to be significant. Details: Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University, 2008. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 29, 2011 at: http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi/Goodlin%20Wendi%20Elizabeth.pdf?bgsu1225748517 Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi/Goodlin%20Wendi%20Elizabeth.pdf?bgsu1225748517 Shelf Number: 122942 Keywords: Drug Addiction and AbuseProstitutesProstitutionRunawaysSex WorkersSexual Abuse |
Author: Moumneh, Rasha Title: “They Hunt Us Down for Fun”: Discrimination and Police Violence Against Transgender Women in Kuwait Summary: In 2007 the Kuwaiti parliament outlawed “imitating the opposite sex”, paving the way for police to arbitrarily detain, torture, and sexually harass and abuse transgender women in Kuwait with impunity. Despite a formal state recognition of Gender Identity Disorder, arrests of transgender women continue unabated. The police often take advantage of the law to blackmail transgender women for sex, and redress for police abuse is difficult, if not impossible, for fear of reprisal and re-arrest. The law does not criminalize any specific act or behavior, but rather an appearance whose interpretation is left entirely up to the whims of the police, giving them free reign to decide who is breaking the law and how it is broken. This report documents the abuse, violence, and persecution faced by transgender women at the hands of the police as well as the discrimination they face on a daily basis as a result of this law. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2012. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 17, 2012 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/kuwait0112ForUpload.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Kuwait URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/kuwait0112ForUpload.pdf Shelf Number: 123645 Keywords: Bias CrimesHate CrimesPolice Use of ForceSexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentSexual ViolenceTransgenderViolence Against Women (Kuwait) |
Author: Davey, Corinne Title: Change starts with us, talk to us! Beneficiary perceptions regarding the effectiveness of measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian aid workers: a HAP commissioned study Summary: This research, conducted in Haiti, Kenya and Thailand, was commissioned by the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP), and sought to capture the views of beneficiaries of humanitarian assistance on the effectiveness of measures put in place to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) by humanitarian workers. This study is a follow up to similar research, also on behalf of HAP, conducted by Lattu in 20081. It examines whether organisations have worked effectively on PSEA measures in the intervening three years, such that beneficiaries now feel safer, more confident to report exploitation and abuse, and more assured that reports will be addressed appropriately. The review analyses the findings and recommendations of existing research, and examines humanitarian organisational policies, guidelines and standards for PSEA. It includes the views of UN and NGO personnel working in the three countries on how these policies and procedures are being implemented, what support they are receiving to set up appropriate mechanisms to protect vulnerable people from SEA and, most importantly, the views of beneficiaries on the effectiveness of these measures. The choice of the focus countries was made in part to provide some comparison over time, since Kenya and Thailand were featured in the previous study. In addition, the three countries cover different regions of the world, and represent different contexts and scenarios in relation to PSEA implementation. In Kenya, a PSEA initiative ended shortly before Lattu’s 2008 research. Two years on, there was now the opportunity to track the sustainability of previous PSEA efforts. Research in Kenya was also conducted in Kibera, one of the largest urban slums in Africa, which allowed for a comparison of measures adopted in an urban development context with those in the camps. In Thailand, a three-year initiative on PSEA was ending, which offered useful learning on the impact of a consistent and concerted effort. The recent earthquake in Haiti provided an example of how PSEA measures are being implemented in the context of a large-scale, rapid onset disaster. Consultation with groups of women, men, girls and boys inform the main findings of the research. A total of 732 beneficiaries participated in the study across the three countries, of which 411 were female and 321 male. The researchers elicited community opinions on exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers but set this in the context of the exploitation and abuse that camp and host communities experience at the hands of other perpetrators, including members of their own communities. In doing so, the researchers were able to explore the impact of initiatives, such as those on gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection, to understand how these have been coordinated with organisational policies to ensure protection from exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers. Beneficiaries in all locations, to a greater or lesser extent, reported that they still feel at risk of exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers. In addition to sexual abuse and exploitation by humanitarian workers, the report describes high levels of violations occurring in the beneficiary populations at the hands of others. Organisational efforts to discuss issues of SEA with beneficiaries appear variable from location to location. Some organisations have put in place effective awareness-raising mechanisms, such as hiring a protection officer, holding regular group meetings, or the use of theatre and drama. These are proving effective in Thailand and in some camps in Haiti. However, the most common feedback from beneficiaries is that organisations have not discussed SEA with them, and that little has been agreed between organisations and beneficiaries to prevent SEA taking place. Under-reporting is still a major issue. Most beneficiaries say they would report SEA by humanitarian workers, but the actual number of reported cases does not appear to bear this out. Reporting depends on a number of factors, principally whether beneficiaries are clear on how to make the report, and the extent to which the reporting mechanism is considered confidential. Providing information to beneficiaries is a major challenge. The use of complaints boxes has not been well received by beneficiaries in Kenya because they are not perceived as being confidential. The lack of clear reporting mechanisms, including identified people to report to, is also a significant barrier to complaining. This reflects an opinion in all three countries. Most beneficiaries who were able to describe the reporting process, articulated a route they had devised themselves rather than a formal reporting mechanism designed by the organisations. In asking beneficiaries what formal process might help them in reporting, women generally wanted organisations to establish a specific place where reports could be made. Reporting also depends on whether or not beneficiaries see the incident as exploitative (consensual sex between humanitarian workers and beneficiaries may not necessarily by considered exploitative) and whether beneficiaries feel they have enough evidence to make a report. At times, it appears simply to be a matter of staff attitude. It is clear from the research, however, that the risk of exploitation and abuse of beneficiaries by humanitarian workers decreases when PSEA initiatives are consistently implemented. In Haiti, the risk was seen as highest in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake before PSEA initiatives were introduced. In Kenya, the 2004 – 2007 PSEA project was perceived to have made improvements in the situation for beneficiaries. However, since the three-year project ended and PSEA was incorporated into GBV work, some declines were noted. In Thailand, a concerted and coordinated effort has seen the cases of SEA by humanitarian aid workers reduce significantly. The recommendations in this report aimed at improving the effectiveness of agencies’ PSEA efforts are drawn from both beneficiaries’ suggestions and the researchers’ analysis. The report has been structured as follows: the introduction provides a background on PSEA efforts since 2002, other research that has been conducted, and the contexts in which research for this report was carried out. The main body of the report is designed to give the reader a sense of the beneficiaries’ voices - the section titles are formed as beneficiaries’ questions, and populated with actual quotes obtained during the country visits. Following the section on conclusions and recommendations, the report provides individual chapters focused on each country visited, giving more detail on the circumstances there, and the issues and perceptions of particular relevance to beneficiaries located in those countries. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: The Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International, 2010. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 17, 2012 at http://www.hapinternational.org/pool/files/change-starts-with-us.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.hapinternational.org/pool/files/change-starts-with-us.pdf Shelf Number: 124158 Keywords: Human RightsSex Exploitation (Haiti) (Kenya) (Thailand)Sexual AbuseVoluntary and Community Organizations |
Author: Loman, L. Anthony Title: Differential Response Improves Traditional Investigations: Criminal Arrests for Severe Physical and Sexual Abuse Summary: This research paper is based upon data collected as part of the evaluation of the Missouri Family Assessment and Response Demonstration. The Institute of Applied Research (IAR) conducted the evaluation. This demonstration represented a fundamental change in the approach of the Missouri Children’s Division (CD) to a large majority of child abuse and neglect (CA/N) incident reports. Under the old Missouri system, all valid incident reports that were received via the state’s CA/N hotline were investigated by CD CA/N investigators. Under the demonstration, only 30 percent of child abuse and neglect incident reports were investigated and the response to the remaining reports was to provide family assessment home visits. The family assessment approach was designed to shift initial encounters with families in a more positive and supportive direction. The minority of incident reports that received an investigation were those in which very serious or criminal abuse or neglect was believed to be likely. An explicit objective of the new approach was to pursue criminal prosecution of perpetrators when investigations had uncovered potentially criminal acts. A number of factors implemented in the Missouri demonstration had the potential for improving investigations, as interviews with workers during site visits to local offices confirmed. The screening of hotlines, and the subsequent use of family assessments in many cases, reduced the number of incidents that were investigated. This reduction had consequences for the types of situations investigated and the manner in which they were investigated. As noted, nearly every investigation in demonstration areas involved serious allegations, if not the likelihood of criminal acts. In most demonstration areas, the large majority of investiga-tions became co-investigations with the local police department. In offices in which separate staffs conducted investigations and family assessments, investigative workers frequently spoke of a closer relationship with law enforcement. During interviews, workers reported an increase in the comprehensiveness of investigations and an improvement in their overall quality. Some also saw an improvement in their efficiency. Some workers also described a carry-over effect of the family assessment approach into investigations. Investigators were likely to be more aware of the social psychological dynamics involved in home visits, more sensitive to the feelings of families, and more focused on the timeliness of interventions. In a survey conducted near the end of the demonstration, investigators in demonstration areas were more likely to report that they had been able to interview all the people they thought they should during investigations conducted within the previous 30 days (82 percent versus 66 percent for comparison workers). In the review of sample cases, it was found that investigators in demonstration areas were more likely to have contacted a prosecutor in cases involving severe injury to children. The present paper describes a more elaborate analysis of criminal arrests in demonstration and comparison areas utilizing criminal records maintained by the Missouri Highway Patrol. Details: St. Louis, Missouri: Institute of Applied Research, 2005. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 19, 2012 at http://www.iarstl.org/papers/DiffRespAndInvestigations.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: http://www.iarstl.org/papers/DiffRespAndInvestigations.pdf Shelf Number: 124196 Keywords: ArrestsChild Abuse and NeglectIncident ReportsSexual Abuse |
Author: Swayze, Dana Title: Youth in Minnesota Correctional Facilities and the Effects of Trauma: Responses to the 2010 Minnesota Student Survey Summary: The Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) is a 127-item questionnaire administered every three years to 6th, 9th and 12th graders in Minnesota public schools. The survey includes a wide variety of questions related to youth attitudes, behaviors and health indicators. Questions reflect a range of protective factors including connectedness to school, family and community, as well as risk factors such as drug and alcohol use, violence and victimization. The survey originated in 1989 with the most recent administration occurring in 2010. In 2010, 88 percent of school districts participated. In total, 71 percent of 6th, 9th and 12th graders (roughly 131,000 students) completed the 2010 MSS. Twenty-four residential juvenile correctional facilities with onsite education programs also participated in the 2010 MSS. This report explores how youth in Minnesota correctional facilities who report having experienced trauma on the MSS (N=482) are similar to or different from those who do not. In addition, the responses of a matched sample of youth who have the same age, gender and racial attributes as the youth in correctional facilities, but took the MSS in a mainstream school, are analyzed for their experiences with trauma (N=500). Youth are classified as having experienced trauma if they answered “yes” to at least one of six trauma indicators on the MSS. Specifically, these questions assess if youth have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse at home; experienced familial or non-familial sexual abuse; or experienced abuse, threats or sexual force in a dating relationship. Understanding trauma is relevant to the field of juvenile justice, and indeed all youth-serving practices, in that childhood and adolescent exposure is connected to myriad issues for youth. These issues include family discord, running away, self-harm and suicide attempts, mental and emotional distress, and increased issues with drugs and alcohol. This report identifies the extent to which these attitudes and behaviors are present in Minnesota youth populations that have experienced trauma, and offers recommendations for traumainformed interventions and services. Child traumatic stress occurs when children and adoles - cents are exposed to events or situations that over - whelm their ability to cope. Generally speaking, a traumatic experience is one that threatens someone’s life, safety or well-being often resulting in intense feelings such as fear, terror, helplessness and hopelessness. Research continually demonstrates that youth involved in the juvenile justice system experience trauma at a rate significantly higher than the general youth popu - lation. MSS data support these findings in that over half of youth in correctional facilities report at least one form of trauma on the MSS (53%) compared to just over one-quarter of a matched sample of main - stream students (28%). Furthermore, a larger percen - tage of youth in correctional facilities report agreement with 3-6 trauma indicators (16%) than mainstream students (7%). In both populations, experiencing and witnessing domestic abuse are the most common trauma indi - cators reported. While mainstream youth are more likely to report experiencing physical, emotional or sexual abuse in their dating relationships, youth in correctional facilities are more likely to report having been sexually abused by a non-familial perpetrator. Interestingly, of all youth who report 3-6 trauma indicators, a greater percentage of mainstream youth report sexual abuse by a family member than do youth in correctional facilities. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, Statistical Analysis Center, 2012. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2012 at: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/forms-documents/Documents/!2012%20Trauma%20Corrections%20Report%20(2).pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/forms-documents/Documents/!2012%20Trauma%20Corrections%20Report%20(2).pdf Shelf Number: 125127 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceJuvenile InmatesJuvenile Offenders (Minnesota)Mental Health, Juvenile OffendersSexual Abuse |
Author: Swayze, Dana Title: Youth in Minnesota Correctional Facilities and the Effects of Trauma: Responses to the 2010 Minnesota Student Survey - September 2011 Summary: The Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) is a 127-item questionnaire administered every three years to 6th, 9th and 12th graders in Minnesota public schools. The survey includes a wide variety of questions related to youth attitudes, behaviors and health indicators. Questions reflect a range of protective factors including connectedness to school, family and community, as well as risk factors such as drug and alcohol use, violence and victimization. The survey originated in 1989 with the most recent administration occurring in 2010. In 2010, 88 percent of school districts participated. In total, 71 percent of 6th, 9th and 12th graders (roughly 131,000 students) completed the 2010 MSS. Twenty-four residential juvenile correctional facilities with onsite education programs also participated in the 2010 MSS. In this report, the responses from 584 youth in correctional facilities were compared to a same-sized sample of youth who took the MSS in mainstream schools. Students were matched to one another on their gender, age, race and Hispanic ethnicity. Comparing two “mirror image” groups of students helps to ensure that differences in survey responses are not attributable to demographic variables. Exploring differences between the two student groups can provide information on what challenges youth in correctional facilities are facing, and what targeted intervention efforts may alleviate their personal or situational difficulties. Similarly, areas in which survey responses are the same for both groups can illuminate protective factors all youth possess, or risk factors to which all youth are vulnerable. A secondary objective of this report is to demonstrate how the MSS data findings support the need for best practices across youth-serving disciplines. The following sections are selected findings from the report. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, Statistical Analysis Center, 2011. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2012 at https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/forms-documents/Documents/!2010%20Youth%20Corrections%20Report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/ojp/forms-documents/Documents/!2010%20Youth%20Corrections%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 125159 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceJuvenile InmatesJuvenile Offenders (Minnesota)Mental Health, Juvenile OffendersSexual Abuse |
Author: Farley, Melissa Title: Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota Summary: Since Native women are at exceptionally high risk for poverty, homelessness, and sexual violence which are elements in the trafficking of women, and because the needs of Native women are generally not being met, and because prostituted women are at extremely high risk for violence and emotional trauma, our goal was to assess the life circumstances of Native women in prostitution in Minnesota, a group of women not previously studied in research such as this. We assessed their needs and the extent to which those needs are or are not being met. We interviewed 105 Native women in prostitution for approximately 1.5 hours each, administering 4 questionnaires that asked about family history, sexual and physical violence throughout their lifetimes, homelessness, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and dissociation, use of available services such as domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, rape crisis centers, and substance abuse treatment. We asked the women about the extent to which they connected with their cultures, and if that helped them or not. We asked about racism and colonialism. The questionnaires were both quantitative and qualitative. About half of the women met a conservative legal definition of sex trafficking which involves third-party control over the prostituting person by pimps or traffickers. Yet most (86%) interviewees felt that no women really know what they're getting into when they begin prostituting, and that there is deception and trickery involved. • 79% of the women we interviewed had been sexually abused as children by an average of 4 perpetrators. • More than two-thirds of the 105 women had family members who had attended boarding schools. • 92% had been raped. • 48% had been used by more than 200 sex buyers during their lifetimes. 16% had been used by at least 900 sex buyers. • 84% had been physically assaulted in prostitution. • 72% suffered traumatic brain injuries in prostitution • 98% were currently or previously homeless. • Racism was an emotionally damaging element in these women's lives and a source of ongoing stress. • 62% saw a connection between prostitution and colonization, and explained that the devaluation of women in prostitution was identical to the colonizing devaluation of Native people. • 33% spoke of Native cultural or spiritual practices as an important part of who they were. • 52% had PTSD at the time of the interview, a rate that is in the range of PTSD among combat veterans. 71% had symptoms of dissociation. • 80% had used outpatient substance abuse services. Many felt that they would have been helped even more by inpatient treatment. 77% had used homeless shelters. 65% had used domestic violence services. 33% had used sexual assault services. • 92% wanted to escape prostitution • Their most frequently stated needs were for individual counseling (75%) and peer support (73%), reflecting a need for their unique experiences as Native women in prostitution to be heard and seen by people who care about them. Two thirds needed housing and vocational counseling. • Many of the women felt they owed their survival to Native cultural practices. Most wanted access to Native healing approaches integrated with a range of mainstream services. Prostitution is a sexually exploitive, often violent economic option most often entered into by those with a lengthy history of sexual, racial and economic victimization. Prostitution is only now beginning to be understood as violence against women and children. It has rarely been included in discussions of sexual violence against Native women. It is crucial to understand the sexual exploitation of Native women in prostitution today in its historical context of colonial violence against nations. In order for a woman to have the real choice to exit prostitution, a range of services must be offered yet there are currently few or no available services especially designed for Native women in prostitution. We recommend increased state and federal funding for transitional and long term housing for Native women and others seeking to escape prostitution. We recommend increased funding for Native women's programs, including advocacy, physical and mental health care, job training and placement, legal services, and research on these topics. We urge state, local, and tribal officials to review and reconsider their policies toward victims of prostitution and We recommend increased state and federal funding for transitional and long term housing for Native women and others seeking to escape prostitution. We recommend increased funding for Native women's programs, including advocacy, physical and mental health care, job training and placement, legal services, and research on these topics. We urge state, local, and tribal officials to review and reconsider their policies toward victims of prostitution and trafficking, including this new research about Native women. The arrest and prosecution of victims is counter-productive and exacerbates their problems. As a Native woman interviewed for this research study said, "We need people with hearts." Arresting sex buyers, not their victims, is a more appropriate policy. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition; San Francisco, CA: Prostitution Research & Education, 2011. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2012 at: http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/pdfs/Garden_of_Truth_Final_Project_WEB.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/pdfs/Garden_of_Truth_Final_Project_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 126355 Keywords: Human TraffickingNative American Women (Minnesota)ProstitutionSexual AbuseSexual ExploitationSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: New Zealand. Ministry of Women's Affairs Title: Lightning Does Strike Twice: Preventing Sexual Revictimisation Summary: In 2009, the Ministry of Women's Affairs (MWA) published the findings from a cross-departmental research project on effective interventions for adult victim/survivors of sexual violence. The prevalence and impacts of repeat sexual victimisation (or sexual revictimisation) emerged as an issue of critical importance: preventing it could go a long way to addressing the costs of violence against women to individuals and society. On the basis of that evidence, MWA undertook some early discussions with government agencies and non-government organisations (NGOs), about their understandings of and responses to sexual revictimisation. The discussions indicated that understanding varied and that responses tend to focus on mitigating the impacts of sexual violence, rather than preventing it from happening again. Agencies also indicated that they would welcome an accessible summary of the research literature on sexual revictimisation. This report establishes a platform for identifying the policy and practice implications of sexual revictimisation and other forms of gender-based violence. It summarises key themes in the research literature on sexual revictimisation and includes insights and feedback obtained from workshops to discuss the research findings with representatives of key government agencies and NGOs in the sexual and family violence sectors. Overall the report presents a complex picture of sexual violence and revictimisation, as experienced by many women across the life course. It strengthens our understanding of the profound and far-reaching impacts of sexual victimisation in childhood, adolescence or adulthood. While sexual revictimisation of women is the main focus, the evidence highlights the links between sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence, including men’s violence against their female intimate partners (IPV), childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and other types of child maltreatment. It underscores the importance of early identification of repeat victim/survivors, the need to break the cycle of repeat victimisation, and to provide consistent and appropriate support for survivors and their families and whānau, at a systemic level. Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Women's Affairs, 2012. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 9, 2012 at: http://www.mwa.govt.nz/news-and-pubs/publications/lightning-does-strike-twice-preventing-revictimisation.pdf Year: 2012 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.mwa.govt.nz/news-and-pubs/publications/lightning-does-strike-twice-preventing-revictimisation.pdf Shelf Number: 126914 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceRapeRepeat Victimization (New Zealand)Sexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual Violence |
Author: Coolman, Alex Title: No Refuge Here: A First Look at Sexual Abuse in Immigration Detention Summary: This report calls attention to the problem of sexual abuse in immigration detention centers in the United States, focusing on three central issues: (1) the considerable and troubling reported record of sexual abuse of detainees, (2) the lack of substantive policies and procedures in place to address such abuse, and (3) immigration officials' refusal to allow independent monitoring of conditions for detainees. Through this report, Stop Prisoner Rape (SPR) calls on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to implement more detailed and comprehensive standards for the prevention and treatment of sexual assault in facilities that hold immigration detainees. No systematic research has ever been undertaken to examine sexual abuse in immigration detention centers, and no statistics about its frequency have been collected. Compiled in these pages, however, are accounts that attest to ongoing abuse, including cases in which detainees have been raped, sexually assaulted, forced to trade sex for favors, and sexually harassed. SPR reviews the most well known of these cases, and discusses a number of additional abusive situations discovered through contacts with detainees and with other nonprofit agencies. Second, this report documents SPR's efforts to speak directly with detainees about their experiences and the distressing stonewalling from immigration officials that was the response to these efforts. This is followed by an in-depth analysis of the ICE's policy on the handling of detainees. The analysis concludes that there are serious shortcomings in the agency's approach to sexual assault and sexual misconduct. SPR suggests specific policy changes that can help the ICE create safer, more humane facilities for detainees. Throughout the report, presented as case studies, are the stories of individual detainees' encounters with forms of sexual violence. SPR hopes that this publication will serve as a first step toward acknowledging and addressing sexual abuse in immigration detention, a problem that, whatever its scope, shatters the lives of those who endure it. Details: Los Angeles, CA: Stop Prisoner Rape, 2004. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2012 at: http://www.justdetention.org/pdf/norefugehere.pdf Year: 2004 Country: United States URL: http://www.justdetention.org/pdf/norefugehere.pdf Shelf Number: 127025 Keywords: Illegal AliensIllegal ImmigrantsImmigrant DetentionPrison Rape (U.S.)Sexual Abuse |
Author: Tarczon, Cindy Title: The Nature and Extent of Sexual Assault and Abuse in Australia Summary: This ACSSA Resource Sheet summarises the available statistical information about the nature and extent of sexual assault and abuse in Australia. It draws on Australian data sources, and provides information on the prevalence of sexual violence as well as characteristics of victimisation and perpetration. Because sexual assault and abuse are significantly under-reported in these data sets, this Resource Sheet describes the limitations associated with these collections. It also describes how we can use data that examine sexual victimisation in high-risk populations. Details: Melbourne: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, 2012. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: ACSSA Resource Sheet: Accessed January 23, 2013 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/sheets/rs5/rs5.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/sheets/rs5/rs5.pdf Shelf Number: 127365 Keywords: RapeSex OffensesSexual AbuseSexual Assault (Australia)Sexual Violence |
Author: Planty, Michael Title: Female Victims of Sexual Violence, 1994-2010 Summary: From 1995 to 2010, the estimated annual rate of female rape or sexual assault victimizations declined 58%, from 5.0 victimizations per 1,000 females age 12 or older to 2.1 per 1,000. In 2005-10, females who were age 34 or younger, who lived in lower income households, and who lived in rural areas experienced some of the highest rates of sexual violence. In 2005-10, 78% of sexual violence involved an offender who was a family member, intimate partner, friend, or acquaintance. In 2005-10, the offender was armed with a gun, knife, or other weapon in 11% of rape or sexual assault victimizations. The percentage of rape or sexual assault victimizations reported to police increased to a high of 56% in 2003 before declining to 35% in 2010, a level last seen in 1995. The percentage of females who were injured during a rape or sexual assault and received some type of treatment for their injuries increased from 26% in 1994-98 to 35% in 2005-10. In 2005-10, about 80% of female rape or sexual assault victims treated for injuries received care in a hospital, doctor’s office, or emergency room, compared to 65% in 1994-98. In 2005-10, about 1 in 4 (23%) rape or sexual assault victims received help or advice from a victim service agency. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Special Report: Accessed March 14, 2013 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fvsv9410.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fvsv9410.pdf Shelf Number: 127939 Keywords: Crime StatisticsFemale Victims of CrimeRapeSexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual Violence (U.S.) |
Author: Young-Hauser, Amanda M. Title: Conversing with ‘Monsters’? Narratives about men who sexually abuse(d) children Summary: This research has examined multiperspectival narratives told about and by men who sexually abuse(d) children. Drawing on institutional, public and private narratives, I have explored how men who sexually abuse(d) children are characterised, how meanings about these men are created, and how their reintegrative prospects are understood. The project has encompassed five research elements: historical narratives evident in archival materials; media narratives evident in news articles; public discourse reflected in five focus groups; the accounts of support people of men who sexually abused reflected in one focus group; and the stories of ten men imprisoned for sexually abusing children elicited through pre-release and post-release conversations. These multiple levels of narration have allowed me to look within and across these settings to establish links and to demarcate points of convergence and departure of these diverse narratives. Results have suggested a mismatch between narratives about men who offend(ed) with those evident in the stories of support persons and the men themselves. The latter are anchored in, but contest the former; in particular the narrow representations of these men as inherently evil and not rehabilitatable. Subtle disruptions that question commonly held assumptions about men who sexually abuse(d) children and tell of alternative possibilities are evident in some narratives. My research shows that narratives can accumulate and reinforce assumptions over time and in many respects be discriminatory and exclusionary as well as being liberatory, enveloped in healing and open to change. By locating these men in their social environment and contextualising the crime, I examine the issues of child sex abuse from various angles. This research offers a more inclusive perspective on men who offend(ed) against children that can contribute to broadening public dialogue regarding the characterizations of these men, issues of community reintegration and repairing people’s lives. Details: Hamilton, New Zealand: University of Waikato, 2010. 414p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 15, 2013 at: http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/4450 Year: 2010 Country: New Zealand URL: http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/4450 Shelf Number: 128744 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseSex OffendersSexual Abuse |
Author: Smith, Connie Title: Provision for Young People Who Have Displayed Harmful Sexual Behaviour Summary: Over the past few decades, children and young people who have sexually harmed others have attracted increasing attention from researchers and policy makers. Although it is known that they form a small, but significant group, there are difficulties in gaining a clear indication of incidence since much of the existing research has involved small and heterogeneous samples, many of which were not UK-based and lack of control groups for comparison. Furthermore, many incidents of sexual abuse are likely to go unreported. The nature, extent and significant negative consequences of harmful sexual behaviour for the victims and perpetrators, make this an important issue for policy development and research investigation. Overall, research and knowledge in this important area are still accumulating and much remains to be confirmed. Although recent decades have seen a movement towards greater understanding of the issue of harmful sex behaviour, a gap remains. The purpose of the project was to help address this gap in knowledge. The aim of the project was to gain an understanding of contemporary service provision for young people displaying harmful sexual behaviour in a UK context. The specific objectives were to: • Build a profile of the scope and nature of current service provision in the UK for young people displaying harmful sexual behaviour, focusing on: • profile of service users and changes over time; • referral sources, assessment, intervention, case management; • staff training and support. • Investigate the part that local and national guidance and procedures play in supporting service provision for young people displaying harmful sexual behaviour in relation to assessment, intervention, case management and staff training/support. • Identify the key principles that underpin good practice in relation to service provision for young people displaying harmful sexual behaviour. • Make recommendations for practice, policy and service provision in relation to young people displaying sexually harmful behaviour. Details: Edinburgh: The University of Edinburgh/NSPCC Child Protection Research Centre, 2013. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 25, 2013 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/resourcesforprofessionals/sexualabuse/harmful-sexual-behaviour-pdf_wdf95465.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/resourcesforprofessionals/sexualabuse/harmful-sexual-behaviour-pdf_wdf95465.pdf Shelf Number: 129149 Keywords: Juvenile Sex Offenders (U.K.)Sex Offender TreatmentSexual Abuse |
Author: Torreon, Barbara Salazar Title: Military Sexual Assault: Chronology of Activity in Congress and Related Resources Summary: This report focuses on activity in Congress regarding recent high profile incidents of sexual assault in the military. Included are separate sections on the official responses related to these incidents by the Department of Defense (DOD), the Administration, and Congress including legislation in the 113th Congress. The last section is a resource guide for sources in this report and related materials on sexual assault and prevention. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2013. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: R43168: Accessed August 6, 2013 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R43168.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R43168.pdf Shelf Number: 129555 Keywords: MilitaryRapeSexual AbuseSexual Assault (U.S.) |
Author: Allenby, Kim Title: A Profile of Women Who Sexually Offend Summary: Women who have committed sexual offences are an understudied offender population that only relatively recently has become a growing area of interest in research. More recently, research has focused on exploring pathways to offending and developing a descriptive model of the process of female-perpetrated sexual offending (e.g., Gannon & Cortoni, 2010). In collaboration with Theresa Gannon, the Research Branch will seek to reproduce her work using a sample of Canadian women sexual offenders (WSOs). As an initial phase, the goal of the current study was to provide a descriptive profile of WSOs under CSC jurisdiction and contribute to our general knowledge and understanding of this population. What we did All Canadian federal women offenders identified as sexual offenders between January 2001 and March 2010 were included in the sample (N = 58). Using the Offender Management System, data were collected concerning offender demographics, risk, and needs; offence, accomplice and victim characteristics; social history; and typology. Data were gathered via automated extraction and manual file review. What we found WSOs were most likely to be Caucasian, in their thirties at intake into federal institutions, and under-educated. They presented with high risk and high needs, particularly in the areas of personal/emotional and family/marital needs. Most women had experienced some type of abuse in childhood (70%; most frequently sexual abuse) and/or adulthood (84%; most frequently physical abuse). 72% of WSOs committed their offence alongside at least one accomplice who was most likely to be male and the woman's partner. Victims' ages ranged but victims were most often young children (5-11) or adolescents (12-17). Typology analyses revealed that over half the WSOs (55%) were male accompanied/coerced offenders; another 19% were identified as angry/impulsive offenders. In comparison to the rest of the WSO sample, those women identified as male accompanied/coerced offenders presented with significantly higher need in relation to the family/marital domain. Angry/impulsive WSOs, in comparison to the rest of the sample, presented with higher risk and more considerable needs in the domains of substance abuse, associates and personal/emotional. What it means Results contribute to our understanding of the unique characteristics, risk and needs of women who commit sexual offences and will assist staff in understanding, treating, and managing these women who present with complex needs. In addition, these results provide early evidence for gender differences in sex offending behavior and thereby provide background for an upcoming, in-depth report examining the pathways to, and processes of female-perpetrated sexual offending. Finally, these results also provide context for the development and implementation of the Program for Women Who Sexually Offend; a program designed to meet the needs and promote successful community reintegration for federal women sexual offenders. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2012. 29p. To obtain a PDF version of the full report, contact the following address: research@csc-scc.gc.ca Source: Internet Resource: 2012 No. R-274: Accessed March 28, 2014 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/005008-0274-eng.shtml Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/005008-0274-eng.shtml Shelf Number: 132024 Keywords: Female OffendersFemale Sex OffendersSex OffendersSexual Abuse |
Author: Coy, Maddy Title: "Sex without consent, I suppose that is rape": How young people in England understand sexual consent Summary: This research into young people's understanding of consent to sex was conducted by the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU) at London Metropolitan University for the Office of the Children's Commissioner, as part of its national Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups (CSEGG). How young people make sense of sexual consent emerged as a key issue of concern during the first year of the CSEGG Inquiry (Berelowitz et al, 2012). The aim of this study was to explore young people's perceptions of consent, and what informs, influences and constrains their understandings and decision-making processes. Details: London: Office of the Children's Commissioner, 2013. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 24, 2014 at: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_744 Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_744 Shelf Number: 131978 Keywords: RapeSexual AbuseSexual Exploitation |
Author: Stathopoulos, Mary Title: Sexual Revictimisation: Individual, interpersonal and contextual factors Summary: There is a complex array of variables related to sexual revictimisation. Although prevalence is difficult to ascertain, several studies relate that people who have been sexually abused as children are two to three times more likely to be sexually revictimised in adolescence and/or adulthood. Much of the literature on sexual revictimisation focuses on the individual risk factors for the victim/survivor - their risk perception and emotional dysregulation resulting from initial sexual victimization - and how these create vulnerability for sexual revictimisation. Broader contextual factors beyond the victim/survivor, however, are often ignored. These contextual factors are explored here with a particular emphasis on minority groups, such as people with a disability; gay, lesbian and bisexual people; and Indigenous people. This focus demonstrates that individual risk factors often do not account for how perpetrators may target vulnerable people who have previously been victimised, how community and organizational attitudes and norms may support sexual revictimisation, and how broader social norms create vulnerability for certain groups. A focus on these broader contextual factors helps to inform prevention strategies. Details: Melbourne: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, 2014. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Summary: Accessed May 14, 2014 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/acssa_sexualrevictimisationindividualinterpersonalandcontextualfactors_may_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/acssa_sexualrevictimisationindividualinterpersonalandcontextualfactors_may_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 132347 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseIntimate Partner ViolenceMinority GroupsRapeRepeat Victimization (Australia)Sexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual Violence |
Author: Goodman-Delahunty, Jane Title: Profiling Parental Child Sex Abuse Summary: Almost universally, including every Australian state and self-governing territory, sexual relations between a parent and child constitute child sexual abuse (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989), although definitions of the crime and penalties vary by jurisdiction. Despite cultural taboos against incest and pervasive social opprobrium, complicity and silence about this offence impedes research advances (Sacco 2009). Studies in correctional settings typically include all subtypes of sex offenders and focus on high-risk extrafamilial offenders, leading to inconsistent findings about the treatment, risk management and prevention of intrafamilial offending (Butler, Goodman-Delahunty & Lulham 2012). Disclosure by popular celebrities of their personal experiences of incest has raised awareness of the widespread nature of this furtive offence (Phillips 2009; Winfrey 2011) but the topic remains understudied, misunderstood and inadequately addressed. Information specific to offender subtypes can inform theory and assist in the development of evidence-based policies and interventions to more effectively reduce crime and enhance protections available to Australian children. To remedy the dearth of information about this covert crime and assess the distinctiveness of this subgroup of child sex offenders, this paper presents findings from an Australian parental sex offender sample referred to a community-based diversion program. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2014. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice no. 465: Accessed June 17, 2014 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/461-480/tandi465.html Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/461-480/tandi465.html Shelf Number: 132486 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse Incest Sex Offenders Sexual Abuse |
Author: Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission Title: Improving Illinois' Response to Sexual Offenses Committed by Youth: Recommendations for Law, Policy, and Practice Summary: The Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission performed extensive scientific and legal research to understand the complex issues of the behavior, treatment, and rehabilitation of juvenile sex offenders and the extent to which current knowledge has resulted in practical applications throughout the state. The findings from this research shaped the Commission's recommendations, which aim to increase public safety, improve outcomes for young offenders, and allocate scarce public resources effectively. To do this, Illinois should implement evidence-informed policies for professionals who work with victims and youth offenders; provide individualized, community-based, family-focused treatments and services; and repeal counter-productive sex offender registration requirements and categorical restrictions for young people. Details: Chicago: Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission, 2014. 150p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://ijjc.illinois.gov/youthsexualoffenses Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://ijjc.illinois.gov/youthsexualoffenses Shelf Number: 132518 Keywords: Juvenile OffendersJuvenile Sex OffendersRehabilitation ProgramsSex Offender TreatmentSexual Abuse |
Author: Albertse, Lizelle Title: Gang members' experiences of victimization and perpetration of rape in prison Summary: People outside of prison tend to imagine sex in prison as violent gang attacks on defenceless individuals, but in actual fact, sex in prison is more complicated than the isolated gang rapes that take place. For the purpose of this study, the researcher followed the qualitative research approach from a constructivist perspective to understand how participants portrayed or constructed their experiences of victimization and/or perpetration of rape. The population of the study was members of the '28' prison gang with a history of sexual perpetration in prison. Participants for the study were male, released from prison, ages between 25 and 45 years of age. The researcher made use of purposive sampling in the selection of 15 participants. Data was collected through in depth, face to face interviews starting with open ended questions and probing for in depth experiences, interpretations and meanings. Data was analyzed according to Creswell's (1998:140) guidelines for qualitative data analysis and was verified as suggested by Creswell (1998:201). In order to explore the social context that might have influenced their constructions of experiences, the following question themes were identified: - Participant's experiences of family life - Participant's experiences of their involvement in crime - Participant's gang involvement in Corrective Institutions - Participant's experiences of forced sex in prison - Consequences of rape in prison after release Details: Cape Town, South Africa: University of the Western Cape, 2007. 94p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed September 27, 2014 at: http://etd.uwc.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11394/2214/Albertse_MA_2007.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2007 Country: South Africa URL: http://etd.uwc.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11394/2214/Albertse_MA_2007.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 133455 Keywords: Prison GangsPrison Rape (South Africa)PrisonersSexual AbuseSexual Violence |
Author: Ferstman, Carla Title: Criminalizing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Peacekeepers Summary: Summary - Sexual exploitation and abuse continue to pervade peacekeeping missions, and peacekeepers benefit from near-total impunity. - Several seminal United Nations (UN) studies and expert reports provide a useful blueprint of where the gaps lie, what must be done to address them, and how to do so. - Zero-tolerance UN policies have focused on preventing new abuse and strengthening codes of conduct. These goals are laudable but undermined when not accompanied by consistent discipline and criminal accountability. - Despite eight years of annual resolutions that underscore the need to address the problems, there is no evidence of greater accountability. - More work is needed to finish the job. States are responsible for disciplining and punishing their troops, but the UN must do more to ensure that this happens. - The UN needs to work actively with states to bridge the gaps in domestic legislation by issuing written advice and publishing model legislation. - The UN should publicly name and shame those states that fail to investigate and prosecute credible cases. - The UN should refrain from accepting troop contingents from countries that repeatedly fail to live up to their written assurances to investigate and prosecute. - The memorandum of understanding governing the relationship between the UN and troop-contributing countries should be further revised to introduce greater conditionality into the acceptance and removal of troop contingents. Details: Washington, DC: United State Institute of Peace, 2013. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Special Report: Accessed November 15, 2014 at: http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR335-Criminalizing%20Sexual%20Exploitation%20and%20Abuse%20by%20Peacekeepers.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR335-Criminalizing%20Sexual%20Exploitation%20and%20Abuse%20by%20Peacekeepers.pdf Shelf Number: 134091 Keywords: MilitaryRapeSex OffendersSex OffensesSexual AbuseSexual Exploitation |
Author: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Evaluation and Inspections Division Title: The Handling of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Allegations by the Department's Law Enforcement Components Summary: The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to assess how the Department of Justice's (Department) four law enforcement components respond to sexual misconduct and harassment allegations made against their employees. This review examined the nature, frequency, reporting, investigation, and adjudication of such allegations in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and the United States Marshals Service (USMS). The findings in today's report include: - Component supervisors did not always report allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct to their respective internal affairs offices as required by component policies. In several instances, these supervisors were not disciplined for their failure to report. Additionally, at the FBI and USMS, the internal affairs offices chose not to investigate some allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct despite significant evidence that misconduct had occurred, and DEA's internal affairs office did not always fully investigate allegations of sexual misconduct related to prostitution. - At ATF, DEA, and USMS, we found a lack of coordination between the internal affairs offices and security personnel. As a result, security departments at these components were sometimes unaware of allegations that may impact an employee's eligibility to hold a security clearance and access classified information. In contrast, we found that the FBI's internal affairs office alerts the FBI security department to any such misconduct allegations it receives. - All of the components we reviewed either did not have adequate offense tables or did not properly use their offense tables for charging employees with sexual harassment and sexual misconduct offenses. The offense tables at ATF, DEA, and USMS did not contain adequate language to address the solicitation of prostitutes in jurisdictions where the conduct is legal or tolerated. The FBI offense table contains such a category, but we found instances where general offense categories were applied instead of the specific category. - All four components have weaknesses in detecting the transmission of sexually explicit text messages and images by employees. Although the FBI archives and proactively monitors its employees' text messages, there are limitations to its ability to use this information, and misconduct investigators at ATF, DEA, and USMS cannot easily obtain such text message evidence. These issues may hamper the components' ability to conduct misconduct investigations, fulfill their discovery obligations, and deter misconduct. Finally, today's report notes that the OIG's ability to conduct this review was significantly impacted and unnecessarily delayed by repeated difficulties we had in obtaining relevant information from both the FBI and DEA. Specifically, the FBI and DEA initially refused to provide the OIG with unredacted information which the OIG was entitled to receive under the Inspector General Act. When they finally did provide the information without extensive redactions, we found that it still was incomplete. We were also concerned by an apparent decision by DEA to withhold information regarding a particular open misconduct case despite the fact that the OIG was authorized to receive the information. Because of these difficulties, we cannot be completely confident that the FBI and DEA provided us with all information relevant to this review. Our report reflects the findings and conclusions we reached based on the information made available to us. The report makes eight recommendations to improve the law enforcement components' disciplinary and security processes relating to allegations of sexual misconduct and harassment. The DOJ and the four components reviewed concurred with all of the recommendations. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2015. 139p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2015 at: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/2015/e1504.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/2015/e1504.pdf Shelf Number: 135145 Keywords: Child PornographyLaw Enforcement InvestigationsMilitary (U.S.)ProstitutionRapeSextingSexual AbuseSexual HarassmentSexual Misconduct |
Author: Cox, Peta Title: Sexual assault and domestic violence in the context of co-occurrence and re-victimisation: State of knowledge paper Summary: This state of knowledge paper examines the intersection between sexual assault and domestic violence, focusing on two forms of concurrent victimisation: re-victimisation (when a woman, over her lifetime, experiences both sexual assault and domestic violence) and intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). The paper looks at the complexity of these experiences to identify the common impacts of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to critically examine how re-victimisation and IPSV can shift the ways in which we think about, and provide services for, women affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Key findings include: - The lack of longitudinal studies of re-victimisation reduces our ability to make conclusions about causal factors or the nature of victimisation over time. - Much of the available research on IPSV and re-victimisation is unable to be extrapolated to findings about the general population, as it focuses on non-representative groups such women who were attending psychology clinics. - Research indicates that women who experience child sexual abuse (CSA) are more likely to experience IPSV than women who have not experienced CSA. Similarly, women who have experienced CSA are more likely to experience DV (not limited to sexual violence) in their adult relationships. - IPSV generally occurs in the context of other forms of violence and was often part of a larger pattern of coercive control in a relationship. IPSV should be considered a tactic of DV, and not a separate phenomenon. - Heteronormative beliefs and conservative gender norms were associated with acceptance and experience of sexual coercion for both men and women. - IPSV victims are less likely to seek help than victims of other forms of DV. - Drug and alcohol use may be a precursor, consequence or risk factor associated with IPSV and re-victimisation. Similarly, emotional distress and psychiatric conditions may increase a person's vulnerability to violence, place them in high risk contexts and/or may be a consequence of violence. - A wide range of communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women with a disability, have discrete patterns of victimisation, including distinct behaviours and norms that may increase the risk of victimisation. - Normative understandings of what constitutes "real rape" affect how victims, perpetrators and bystanders interpret experiences of sexual assault. These norms particularly affect interpretations of IPSV incidents. - Both IPSV and re-victimisation had significant physical and mental health consequences. Details: Sydney: ANROWS, 2015. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: State of Knowledge Paper, Issue 13: Accessed November 24, 2015 at: http://anrows.org.au/publications/landscapes/co-occurrence-and-re-victimisation Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://anrows.org.au/publications/landscapes/co-occurrence-and-re-victimisation Shelf Number: 137316 Keywords: Family ViolenceRepeat VictimizationSex CrimesSexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual ViolenceVictims of ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Rivas, Carol Title: Advocacy Interventions to Reduce or Eliminate Violence and Promote the Physical and Psychosocial Well-being of Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Abuse: A Systematic Review Summary: Intimate partner abuse is common worldwide, damaging the short- and long-term physical, mental, and emotional health of survivors and children. Advocacy may contribute to reducing abuse, empowering women to improve their situation by providing informal counselling and support for safety planning and increasing access to different services. Advocacy may be a stand-alone service, accepting referrals from healthcare providers, or part of a multi-component (and possibly multi-agency) intervention provided by service staff or others. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of advocacy interventions within or outside healthcare settings in women who have experienced intimate partner abuse. SEARCH METHODS In April 2015, we searched CENTRAL, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and 10 other databases. We also searched WHO ICTRP, mRCT, and UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN), and examined relevant websites and reference lists with forward citation tracking of included studies. For the original review we hand-searched six key journals. We also contacted first authors of eligible papers and experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing advocacy interventions for women with experience of intimate partner abuse versus no intervention or usual care (if advocacy was minimal and fewer than 20% of women received it). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently assessed risk of bias and undertook data extraction. We contacted authors for missing information needed to calculate statistics for the review and looked for adverse events. MAIN RESULTS We included 13 trials involving 2141 participants aged 15 to 65 years, frequently having low socioeconomic status. The studies were quite heterogeneous in terms of methodology, study processes and design, including with regard to the duration of follow-up (post-intervention to three years), although this was not associated with differences in effect. The studies also had considerable clinical heterogeneity in relation to staff delivering advocacy; setting (community, shelter, antenatal, healthcare); advocacy intensity (from 30 minutes to 80 hours); and abuse severity. Three trials evaluated advocacy within multi-component interventions. Eleven measured some form of abuse (eight scales), six assessed quality of life (three scales), and six measured depression (three scales). Countries and ethnic groups varied (one or more minority ethnic groups in the USA or UK, and local populations in Hong Kong and Peru). Setting was associated with intensity and duration of advocacy. Risk of bias was high in five studies, moderate in five, and low in three. The quality of evidence (considering multiple factors such as risk of bias, study size, missing data) was moderate to low for brief advocacy and very low for intensive advocacy. Incidence of abuse Physical abuse Moderate quality pooled data from two healthcare studies (moderate risk of bias) and one community study (low risk of bias), all with 12-month follow-up data, showed no effect on physical abuse for brief (< 12 hours) advocacy interventions (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 0.17 to 0.16; n = 558). One antenatal study (low risk of bias) showed an association between brief advocacy and reduced minor physical abuse at one year (mean difference (MD) change - 1.00, 95% CI - 1.82 to - 0.18; n = 110). An antenatal, multi-component study showed a greater likelihood of physical abuse ending (odds ratio (OR) 0.42, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.75) immediately after advocacy (number needed to treat (NNT) = 8); we cannot exclude impact from other components. Low to very low quality evidence from two intensive advocacy trials (12 hours plus duration) showed reduced severe physical abuse in women leaving a shelter at 24 months (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.77; NNT = 8), but not at 12 or 36 months. Sexual abuse Meta-analysis of two studies (n = 239) showed no effect of advocacy on sexual abuse (SMD - 0.12, 95% CI - 0.37 to 0.14), agreeing with the change score (MD - 0.07, 95% CI - 0.30 to 0.16) from a third study and the OR (0.96, 95% CI 0.44 to 2.12) from a fourth antenatal, multi-component study. Emotional abuse One study in antenatal care, rated at low risk of bias, showed reduced emotional abuse at - 12-month follow-up (MD (change score) - 4.24, 95% CI - 6.42 to - 2.06; n = 110). Psychosocial health Quality of life Meta-analysis of two studies (high risk of bias) showed intensive advocacy slightly improved overall quality of life of women recruited from shelters (MD 0.23, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.46; n = 343) at 12-month follow-up, with greater improvement in perceived physical quality of life from a primary care study (high risk of bias; MD 4.90, 95% CI 0.98 to 8.82) immediately postintervention. Depression Meta-analysis of two studies in healthcare settings, one at high risk of bias and one at moderate risk, showed that fewer women developed depression (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.65; n = 149; NNT = 4) with brief advocacy. One study at high risk of bias reported a slight reduction in depression in pregnant women immediately after the intervention (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.20 to 1.29; n = 103; NNT = 8). There was no evidence that intensive advocacy reduced depression at - 12-month follow-up (MD - 0.14, 95% CI - 0.33 to 0.05; 3 studies; n = 446) or at two years (SMD − 0.12, 95% CI − 0.36 to 0.12; 1 study; n = 265). Adverse effects Two women died, one who was murdered by her partner and one who committed suicide. No evidence links either death to study participation. Details: Oslo: Campbell Collaboration, 2016. 203p. Source: Internet Resource: Campbell Systematic Review 2016:2: Accessed February 5, 2016: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/lib/project/84/ Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/lib/project/84/ Shelf Number: 137780 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceEmotional AbuseFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner AbuseSexual Abuse |
Author: Deutsche Sportjugend im Deutschen Olympischen Sportbund e.V. Title: Prevention of sexual and gender harassment and abuse in sports Initiatives in Europe and beyond Summary: Sport is currently a disputed social terrain: on the one hand it exposes individuals and society to positive values, but at the same time it also bears the potential to be harmful. Therefore, we believe that one of the main tasks of the European sporting movement is to work towards safeguarding the integrity of sport. Focusing on preventive measures and investing continuously into the education of European sportsmen and women, especially in our European youth sector, plays a vital role in accomplishing this long-term goal. Concerted European action is required to effectively promote the ethical values inherent to sport and in order to truly offer all individuals and groups in society equal opportunities to participate in and enjoy the benefits of sport. Bringing together a European project network and finding common denominators between various actors and bodies at different levels of the European sporting, social and scientific environments is a challenging task that is easily underestimated in terms of the resources necessary for such a project to run smoothly. Despite the fact that European coordination often means compromising, adjusting and adapting in previously unforeseen ways, initiating and being involved in projects such as this one always allows an organisation to grow and develop its capacities, networks and know-how. The November 2012 conference "Safer, better, stronger - Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse in sports" is the final stage of the EU-funded project "Prevention of sexualised violence in sports - Impulses for an open, secure and sound sporting environment in Europe" and a contribution to provide a platform not only for strengthening transnational and crosssector cooperation, but also for sensitising and raising awareness at all levels of the complex social environment that surrounds the problem of harassment and abuse. Bringing together individuals and organisations with differing competences is an ideal occasion to foster networking among experienced actors and beginners alike, to link European resources, to learn from and support each other as well as to encourage future collaboration. As a main outcome of this project, this catalogue of initiatives from Europe and beyond will support this intercultural learning to develop Details: Frankfurt am Main: Deutsche Sportjugend, 2012. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2016 at: http://www.whiteribbon.at/documents/227622494.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: http://www.whiteribbon.at/documents/227622494.pdf Shelf Number: 139821 Keywords: Gender-Based ViolenceSexual AbuseSexual HarassmentSporting EventsSports Violence |
Author: Smallbone, Stephen Title: Preventing Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse in West Cairns and Aurukun: Establishing the scope, dimensions and dynamics of the problem Summary: he Queensland Government recognises every child's right to feel safe and free from harm. In 2012 the Department of Premier and Cabinet commissioned Griffith University to examine Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse in West Cairns and Aurukun. The results of this examination highlighted evidence of youth sexual violence and abuse and the risks for the future. As a result, the Queensland Government has committed to taking positive action focused on the prevention of youth sexual violence and abuse in Queensland. Details: Brisbane: Griffith University, 2013. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 7, 2016 at: https://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/resources/datsima/programs/ysv-report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: https://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/resources/datsima/programs/ysv-report.pdf Shelf Number: 147816 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationSexual AbuseSexual Assault |
Author: Allnock, Debbie Title: Mapping the therapeutic services for sexual abuse in the UK in 2015 Summary: About the mapping exercise 1. The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Violence at the University of Bedfordshire was commissioned by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to undertake a mapping exercise – across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - of therapeutic services for children and young people who have experienced any form of child sexual abuse (CSA), including child sexual exploitation (CSE). This mapping exercise was intended to be an update, and facilitate a comparative analysis with the 2007 audit. However, different samples and the more limited nature of the exercise means that it is inadvisable to make direct comparisons. However, the current mapping exercise has revealed new insights about a broader range of services than were included in the previous 2007 audit. 2. The current mapping exercise consisted of: 1) identification of generalist and specialist services in the four nations providing therapeutic support for any form of child sexual abuse, including child sexual exploitation (n=750); 2) an online questionnaire distributed to all identified services; 3) a small number of followup telephone interviews with service providers and 4) a small number of telephone interviews with service commissioners. A total of 130 respondents provided data in the questionnaire on 149 services, giving a service response rate of 20%. Key findings There were a range of findings across funding and commissioning experiences of services, provision for children and young people, current service use and met and unmet need among the sample. Key findings include: Obtaining full and accurate data on current service use is complex and difficult, and the task has not improved since the 2007 audit where similar difficulties were encountered. A key recommendation in that report was an improvement in the recording of data, particularly by services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHs) but the evidence suggests this has not been addressed. This makes it incredibly difficult to establish solid evidence about the need/demand for services and whether or not current provision is adequately meeting the demand. Some of the generalist services in the current mapping exercise were unable to provide referral figures on CSA/CSE because they do not tend to disaggregate their figures on this particular issue. The referral data provided in the current mapping exercise shows an overall gap (a 12% current gap and an anticipated gap of 17% in future) in provision across the services in this sample to children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse / exploitation. While some children may be referred to other services, there are likely to be some children who do not receive a service, or do not receive a timely service. The mapping exercise revealed a large number of services across the UK comprised of both specialist and generalist services which exist across statutory, voluntary and private sectors and in some case comprise multiagency initiatives. Whilst specialist services have been identified by some commentators to be more responsive and tailored to victims of sexual violence, it is clear that in the current climate of increasing awareness and demand, generalist services are identifying and supporting children and young people who have experienced CSA / CSE. Despite variation in the needs and support required between younger children and older children who have experienced CSA/ CSE, some services are supporting both groups. What is less clear is whether these services are effectively equipped to provide specialised support to meet the needs of children and young people experiencing different forms of CSA. SARCs have been an important development in provision of streamlined support for victims of sexual violence, although a key finding identified both in the literature and within this mapping exercise is a lack of emotional support within these services for children and young people who have experienced child sexual abuse / exploitation. Since the 2007 audit, there appears to have been little change in the funding environment for CSA. Greater awareness of CSE means that it is possible that there has been more attention given to funding specialist services in this area at the expense of services dedicated to other forms of CSA. Across specialist services, funding continues to be provided through insecure and short-term funding cycles which are at odds with the nature of the provision required to adequately support children and young people with these experiences. Services continue to devote an enormous amount of time and energy to chasing new funding streams, which, they say diverts energy and time away from delivering quality services to children and young people. Service providers and commissioners have noted how complex and confusing the commissioning environment is, creating more stress and insecurity for providers. Service providers feel confident that they will continue to be funded but this confidence derives primarily from an optimism about their reputations and the current high priority of CSA/CSE rather than having actually secured future funding. Some referral sources for services are more developed than others; only 50% of services are seeing/accepting referrals from the police, for example and fewer from youth justice and youth services. CAMHs remain difficult to access and the situation appears to be declining in some areas in the face of funding cuts in recent years. Providers view CAMHs as largely difficult to access, a finding which has been identified in other studies and reviews of services. Almost all services, however, set eligibility criteria to restrict access. Age is one of the more common criteria and the mapping exercise has shown that, at least among the current sample, services for younger children are scarce while services for older children and adolescents are in somewhat greater supply. Although there is significant variability in the quality and amount of referral data received, the patterns of service provision suggest that it is White British girls without disabilities who comprise the largest group receiving services. Creative therapies remain a common approach in working with children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse. The ‘therapeutic relationship’ is also very common across services which focus on child sexual exploitation as well as other forms of child sexual abuse. Services are largely only accessible during the hours of 9 to 5 during the weekdays. For children and young people who may want and need support outside of these hours, provision is scarce. Children and young people with eating disorders, substance abuse problems, additional mental health needs and young offenders are most likely to be referred onwards to another service for help. Details: University of Bedfordshire, The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking and Violence, 2015. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: https://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/504283/mapping-therapeutic-services-sexual-abuse-uk-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/504283/mapping-therapeutic-services-sexual-abuse-uk-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 147941 Keywords: Child Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationMental Health ServicesSex CrimesSexual AbuseSexual ViolenceVictim Services |
Author: UBS Optimus Foundation Title: Optimus Study South Africa: Technical Report. Sexual victimisation of children in South Africa Final report of the Optimus Foundation Study: South Africa Summary: This report presents the findings of the Optimus Study conducted in South Africa. This study was designed specifically to estimate the annual incidence and lifetime prevalence of child sexual abuse and maltreatment in South Africa. Prior to this, no nationally representative data on the extent or impact of child sexual abuse existed. In order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the nature, extent and impact of child sexual abuse in the country, the study drew on two data sources: firstly, a population survey that was conducted with a sample of 15- to 17-year-old adolescents recruited nationally from schools (4 086 participants) as well as households (5 631 participants), and secondly an agency component that consisted of a series of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with frontline staff and agency directors servicing the communities or geographical spaces identified through the sampling process. Through a thorough exploration of these areas, the study identifies where resources can best be targeted, provides a local evidence base for the development of effective interventions, and identifies whether intervening in one form of abuse or neglect might also have the potential to address other forms of violence. Results The study results revealed that of the young people interviewed in schools, 35.4% – one in every three young people – had experienced some form of sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Figures from the household portion of the study are slightly lower, but confirm that the rates are high: in households, 26.3% – more than a quarter of young people interviewed – reported having experienced some form of sexual abuse. Since rates of reporting in the schools portion of the study are generally higher, indicating that disclosure of these very difficult experiences may have been easier in that context, we base our estimates on that sample. This means that a total of at least 784 967 young people in South Africa have been the victims of sexual abuse by the age of 17 years. A total of 351 214 cases of sexual abuse had occurred among 15- to 17-year-olds in the past year alone. The differences between males’ and females’ reported rates of abuse were not as stark in this South African study as they have been in other studies. In the school survey, boys (36.8%) were found to be slightly more likely than girls (33.9%) to report some form of sexual abuse. Previous research has almost unfailingly underscored the particular vulnerability of young girls to sexual abuse. The findings from this national prevalence study indicate that boys and girls are equally vulnerable to some form of sexual abuse over the course of their lifetimes, although those forms tend to be different for boys and for girls. The mean age at which girls first experienced sexual abuse was 14, while boys typically reported their first experience to be at the age of 15 years. One in 10 (11.3%) young people had experienced unwanted sexual touching by a known or unknown adult in their lifetime, based on reporting rates from the school survey. Based on reporting rates from the school survey, 9.4% of young people had been made to do sexual things against their will by another child or teen; 11.7% had experienced someone trying to force them to have sex; 12.9% had experienced exposure abuse; and 15.7% had had a sexual experience with someone 18 or older (some of which may have been consensual). These findings illustrate that while sexual abuse is slightly more likely to occur once in a young person's lifetime, in 40% of these cases, it occurs two or more times. In the school survey, 42.2% of respondents had experiIn the school survey, 42.2% of respondents had experienced some form of maltreatment (whether sexual, physical, emotional or neglect), while 82.0% reported experiencing some form of victimisation (whether criminal victimisation or exposure to family or community violence). By and large, girls and urban dwellers were more likely to report these experiences than boys and those living in rural areas. A number of factors were associated with an increased risk of sexual victimisation. These included living with neither or just one biological parent, parental absence either due to hospitalisation or prolonged illness, parental substance abuse, disability status of the child, as well as sleeping density (the number of teens or adults with whom the respondent shared a room). The study also highlighted the protective factors associated with a reduced risk of sexual victimisation. Parents’ knowledge of who young people spend their time with, and how they spend their time and where they go, were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of young people reporting that they had been victims of sexual abuse. In addition to this, warm and supportive parent-child relationships were also found to be significantly associated with lower risk for sexual victimisation, specifically for girls. Sexual abuse was dramatically and strongly associated with mental health symptoms: young people who reported having been sexually abused were more than twice as likely to report anxiety and depression, and three times as likely to report PTSD symptoms, as other young South Africans. One-fifth of children who have been sexually abused by adults are also likely to have problems with schoolwork or school attendance. Nearly a third of those sexually abused by a known adult reported having injuries as a result of this abuse, although in turn, only a third of those injured actually sought assistance. While fewer children who had been abused by an unknown adult were injured, they were far more likely to seek medical assistance. Respondents were unlikely to report incidents of sexual abuse to authorities. For instance, in cases where they reported sexual abuse by an adult they knew, only 31.0% of girls and no boys reported this to the police. Young males are especially disinclined to report, across all categories of abuse. Details: Zurich, SWIT: UBS Optimus Foundation, 2016. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2017 at: http://www.cjcp.org.za/uploads/2/7/8/4/27845461/08_cjcp_report_2016_d.pdf Year: 2016 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.cjcp.org.za/uploads/2/7/8/4/27845461/08_cjcp_report_2016_d.pdf Shelf Number: 145129 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseSexual Abuse |
Author: Latchford, Lia Title: Young people who sexually harm peers in groups: A Rapid Evidence Assessment of International Literature Summary: This literature review was conducted by the University of Bedfordshire to develop an evidence base on young people who sexually harm in groups, by synthesising existing literature on group harmful sexual behaviour (HSB), wider group offending and group interventions. Using a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) methodology, the review addresses the following research objectives: Provide a critical overview and synthesis of existing literature on harmful sexual behaviour, group offending and group interventions and what this means for practice Identify the gaps and limitations in existing research on young people who sexually harm peers in groups Consider how existing evidence could be applied and built upon to respond to young people who sexually harm peers in groups The literature was identified, screened, coded, and synthesised to draw out the following key findings: There is a limited evidence-base focused on young people who display harmful sexual behaviour within a group context. The majority of literature is located in the USA and the Netherlands, with fewer studies generated from other parts of Europe Young people who sexually harm in a group context have a mixed profile with a range of individual characteristics and situational contexts that differ between young people Group harmful sexual behaviour, like broader group offending, is found to peak during adolescence and decline into adulthood Peer influence, group pressure and group dynamics impact on young people who sexually harm, and engage in wider offending behaviour, within a group context. Group roles are flexible and may change from one situation to another The literature did not identify existing interventions that work to respond to group harmful sexual behaviour The literature review concludes that there is scope to explore adaptations to Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and interventions such as detached youth work, that work with young people in their own environments, to begin to address group-based harmful sexual behaviour. The review suggests that it may be useful to equip practitioners who already work with young people in a group context, with the skills to respond specifically to group-based harmful sexual behaviour and to appropriately safeguard those affected. Details: Bedfordshire, UK: University of Bedfordshire, International Centre Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking, 2016. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2018 at: https://contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/assets/documents/IC-literature-review-on-group-HSB.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: https://contextualsafeguarding.org.uk/assets/documents/IC-literature-review-on-group-HSB.pdf Shelf Number: 149619 Keywords: Group OffendingJuvenile Sex OffendersPeer CriminalitySex Offenders Sexual Abuse Sexual Violence |
Author: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Title: "Is this sexual abuse?" NSPCC helplines report: peer sexual abuse Summary: It's normal for children to demonstrate a range of sexual behaviours as they grow up. But sometimes they may behave in a sexualised way that is inappropriate to their age and stage of development. We call this harmful sexual behaviour, because it's harmful to the children who display it, as well as the people it's directed towards. There are many reasons why children display harmful sexual behaviour, but research shows that exposure to trauma can be a key factor in its development (Hackett, 2016). Harmful sexual behaviour can be displayed towards peers, younger children, older children or adults. It ranges from behaviour that is socially inappropriate to behaviour that is unexpected or impulsive, and behaviour with an element of victimisation or violence. This may include unwanted or inappropriate touching; forcing or coercing someone else to watch or take part in sexualised activity; and sexual violence. Around a third of child sexual abuse is committed by other children and young people (Hackett, 2014). We hear from parents and professionals who are concerned about children displaying sexualised behaviour. In 2016/17, there were 663 contacts to our helpline about this. Many of the adults who got in touch weren't confident about deciding whether sexualised behaviour is 'normal' or harmful, and they weren't sure of the best way to respond. Puberty can be a confusing time and peer relationships naturally change as children grow up. This can mean children also find it difficult to identify which sexual behaviours are appropriate and inappropriate. Those who display harmful sexual behaviour may not recognise that they are doing so. Those who experience harmful sexual behaviour may realise it makes them feel unhappy or unsafe, but they aren't always clear about how to respond. In 2016/17, our Childline service delivered 3,004 counselling sessions to children and young people who were concerned about having been sexually abused by their peers. This might be a friend; boyfriend or girlfriend; ex-partner; or another young person who was under the age of 18, and who isn't related to them. Throughout this report we're calling this type of abuse 'peer sexual abuse'. Peer sexual abuse can take place in a range of locations including at school, at home, at social events and online. According to a BBC Freedom of Information request, the number of police-recorded sexual offences by under-18-year-olds against other under-18-year-olds in England and Wales rose by 71 per cent between 2013/14 (4,603) and 2016/17 (7,866) (BBC, 2017). However, it's likely that peer sexual abuse is underreported. Research carried out by Radford in 2009 found that 1 in 3 children sexually abused by an adult didn't tell anyone at the time, and this figure is even higher for children who have experienced peer sexual abuse (Radford et al, 2011). Some young people tell our Childline counsellors they don't want to speak out, for reasons like: - being worried about getting a friend or partner into trouble - being blackmailed or threatened into keeping things secret - being afraid of being bullied - not being sure they will be believed. They may not fully understand whether they gave consent for sexual activity to take place, feel guilty or think they are somehow to blame - especially if alcohol was involved, or if they were involved in sexting (sharing explicit texts, images or videos). We want to help adults support children who are affected by peer sexual abuse more effectively. It's vital that children and young people who have experienced any form of abuse know it wasn't their fault, and are able to get the right help at the right time. So in this report we're sharing what young people have told Childline about their experiences of peer sexual abuse. We've looked at how peer sexual abuse takes place; the impact this has on young people's lives; and the challenges they face accessing support. We're also highlighting what they say helps them get back on track after experiencing peer sexual abuse, what they're telling us about the support they need, and how we can best prevent peer sexual abuse from happening. Details: London: NSPCC, 2018. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 3, 2018 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/nspcc-helplines-report-peer-sexual-abuse.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/nspcc-helplines-report-peer-sexual-abuse.pdf Shelf Number: 150451 Keywords: Child ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseJuvenile Sex OffendersPeer RelationsPeer Sexual AbuseSextingSexual AbuseSocial Media |
Author: Cotter, Adam Title: Violent victimization of women with disabilities, 2014 Summary: According to the 2014 General Social Survey on Victimization, women with a disability were twice as likely as women who did not have a disability to have been a victim of violent crime. A similar trend was evident among men. Women with a disability were nearly twice as likely as women without a disability to have been sexually assaulted in the past 12 months. Among victims of violent crime, women with a disability were almost twice as likely as women without one to have been victimized more than once in the 12 months preceding the survey (36% versus 20%). The rate of violent victimization among women and men with a cognitive disability or a mental health‑related disability was approximately four times higher than among those who did not have a disability. Among women and men with a sensory or physical disability, the rate of violent victimization was roughly twice as high as among those who did not have a disability. Victims of violent crime who had a disability were more likely to make use of victims' services. Six in ten (61%) victims of violent crime who turned to formal support services in 2014 had a disability. Women with a disability were more likely than their male counterparts to contact or use any services. Canadians with a disability were more likely to be victimized in their own home, as close to one‑third (30%) of violent incidents against a person with a disability occurred in their private residence (compared to 17% of incidents where the victim did not have a disability). Four in ten (40%) Canadians with a disability at the time of the survey were physically and/or sexually abused during their childhood, compared to about one‑quarter (27%) of those who did not have a disability. About one‑quarter of women with a cognitive disability (24%) or a mental health‑related disability (26%) were sexually abused by an adult before they were 15 years of age. Almost half (46%) of all Canadian women who reported having ever experienced homelessness had a disability, as did nearly four in ten (37%) men. Overall, more than one in five Canadians with a mental health‑related disability (22% of women and 25% of men) or a cognitive disability (22% of women and 23% of men) indicated that they had experienced homelessness at some point in their life. More than one in five (23%) women with a disability experienced emotional, financial, physical or sexual violence or abuse committed by a current or former partner in the past 5 years, a similar proportion as men with a disability (22%). For both women and men, this was roughly two times higher when compared to those without a disability. Among victims of spousal violence with a disability, women were more likely than men to have experienced the most serious forms of spousal violence (39% versus 16%E), to be physically injured due to the violence (46% versus 29%E), to fear for their life (38% versus 14%E), and to contact or use formal support services following the violence (71% versus 29%E). Details: Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2018. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Juristat: Accessed July 10, 2018 at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54910-eng.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Canada URL: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54910-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 150803 Keywords: Disabilities Disabled Persons Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Sexual AbuseVictimization Violence Against Women Violent Crime |
Author: McKillop, Nadine Title: Understanding and preventing the onset of child sexual abuse in adolescence and adulthood Summary: Offender and offence characteristics associated with the onset of child sexual abuse in adolescence and adulthood were examined in a sample of males adjudicated for sexual offences. Predictors of adolescent- and adult-onset abuse reinforce that adolescents and adults, for the most part, are two distinct offender populations who may be motivated to sexually abuse for different reasons and who are influenced by opportunity structures, constraints and experiences that characterise these developmental stages. Findings support tailored prevention efforts for adolescents and adults. Emphasis should be placed on primary and secondary prevention efforts that are currently less developed in Australia, compared to tertiary responses. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2018. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice No. 554: Accessed August 7, 2018 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi554 Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi554 Shelf Number: 151038 Keywords: Child Sex Offenders Child Sexual Abuse Sex Offenders Sexual Abuse |
Author: Kezelman, Cathy Title: The Cost of Unresolved Childhood Trauma and Abuse in Adults in Australia Summary: Executive Summary Childhood trauma including abuse affects an estimated five million Australian adults. It is a substantial public health issue with significant individual and community health, welfare and economic repercussions. Unresolved childhood trauma has short-term and life-long impacts which substantially erode both national productivity and national well-being. It needs to be seen as a mainstream public health policy issue and responded to accordingly. Pegasus Economics estimates that if the impacts of child abuse (sexual, emotional and physical) on an estimated 3.7 million adults are adequately addressed through active timely and comprehensive intervention, the combined budget position of Federal, State and Territory Governments could be improved by a minimum of $6.8 billion annually. In the population of adult survivors of childhood trauma more broadly i.e. a figure of 5 million adults, this estimate rises to $9.1 billion. These figures represent a combined effect of higher Government expenditure and foregone tax revenue. If adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse experienced the same life outcomes as nontraumatised adults, the collective budget deficits of Australian governments would be improved, at a minimum, by an amount roughly equivalent to the entire Government outlay on tertiary education. These estimates, based on a conservative set of assumptions, indicate extraordinary cost savings. On different, but still plausible assumptions, the annual budgetary cost of unresolved childhood trauma could be as high as $24 billion. While child abuse includes sexual, physical and emotional abuse, childhood trauma is a broader more comprehensive category. For each, the common element is the powerlessness of the child, due to age and dependency, to prevent or minimise it. Early life trauma and abuse affect the developing brain and have many possible impacts on daily adult life. These include the coping strategies children adopt to minimise overwhelm. Such strategies, highly creative and potentially effective in the short-term, may still be used in adult life. Perpetuated when the underlying trauma is not resolved, these coping strategies are associated with health risks in adulthood. Reducing costs of childhood trauma -- Addressing child sexual, emotional and physical abuse alone could lead to a potential minimum gain of $6.8 billion for the combined Federal, State and Territory Government budgets. The minimum gain from addressing the problem of childhood trauma more generally is $9.1 billion. Active timely and comprehensive intervention, with appropriate support, resources, services and treatment enables adult survivors to participate more fully and productively in the Australian community. Governments are currently exploring a range of revenue measures and expenditure cuts to restore the budget position. As Australia's population ages the long-term prognosis for the budget is for continuing strain; the main driver of deteriorating finances is forecast health expenditures. The Commonwealth Government's most recent inter-generational report (Swan, 2012) showed the major future stress on government expenditures to be in health outlays. As a percentage of GDP, health expenditure is forecast to rise from 3.9% in this current year to 7.1% in 2049-50 (an almost doubling in proportional expenditure). Progress in reducing the impact of childhood trauma and abuse in adults can make a positive contribution not only to the health budget challenges that lie ahead but also to those related to the welfare and criminal justice systems and the lower taxation revenue associated with the impact. Active timely comprehensive intervention will help address childhood trauma and abuse in adults Active investment in specialist services Specialist services are needed to spearhead policy and practice responses to adult childhood trauma and abuse survivors. Active investment to support a coordinated comprehensive model of care, including continued and increased access to effective help lines and online services, is needed. Timely active comprehensive intervention including appropriate support, counselling, resources and services promotes recovery. When survivors comprehensively overcome their trauma they and their children are freed to live productive, healthy and constructive lives. A key by-product of addressing the impacts of childhood trauma in adults is a financial benefit to Federal, State and Territory Government budgets. People affected by unresolved childhood trauma incur significant costs on taxpayers. This occurs through higher Government expenditure on health spending, welfare support and criminal justice costs, as well as via lower taxation revenue. More and better trained treating practitioners - counsellors/therapists Unfortunately our public health system has evolved in a way which means that adult mental health services focus on addressing immediate health issues (such as depression and alcoholism) rather than identifying and addressing underlying causes (such as prior childhood trauma and abuse). A convenient and failsafe pathway to treatment - No wrong door Frontline practitioners: General Practitioners and nurse practitioners will inevitably see people who have been impacted by childhood trauma including abuse, on a daily basis. These contacts provide an opportunity to facilitate a process whereby the person who presents can start receiving the right support, either directly or through targeted referral including specialist counselling, ideally from an accredited practitioner. Training is needed to enable primary care practitioners to identify trauma survivors and to respond appropriately. System, service and institutional improvements - Trauma-informed practice Benefits can also be achieved by raising awareness around the possibility of unresolved trauma in people who seek diverse services across health and human service systems, agencies, organisations and institutions. Adults who experience the ongoing impacts of unresolved childhood trauma will necessarily need to access various services. Broad-based implementation of trauma-informed practice and responses will help minimise the impact of trauma and the risk of re-traumatisation of people who have experienced childhood trauma including abuse. Details: Milson's Point, New South Wales, Australia: Blue Knot Foundation, 2015. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: https://www.blueknot.org.au/Portals/2/Economic%20Report/The%20cost%20of%20unresolved%20trauma_budget%20report%20fnl.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://www.blueknot.org.au/Portals/2/Economic%20Report/The%20cost%20of%20unresolved%20trauma_budget%20report%20fnl.pdf Shelf Number: 154214 Keywords: AbuseAdult SurvivorsChild AbuseChildhood TraumaCounsellingEmotional AbusePhysical AbusePublic HealthSexual AbuseSurvivorsTraumaVictim AssistanceVictim Services |
Author: Malatest International Title: Formative evaluation report: Specialist Sexual Harm Services Summary: Background -- Budget 16 increased government investment in specialist sexual harm services. On 18 May 2016, government announced $46 million operating funding would be invested through Budget 2016 to design and implement new specialist sexual harm services (SSHS) and maintain existing services. The funding would be provided over four years with the aim of: developing a more effective integrated national system which delivers the right support and services that can reach more of the people who need them and by doing so reducing the impact of sexual harm and improving outcomes for individuals, families/whanau and communities. MSD funds four specialist sexual harm service streams Sexual harm crisis support services (SHCSS) that take a trauma-informed approach to service provision and include: call-out support, advocacy, crisis social work support, crisis counselling, advice, information, and links or referral to aligned services. Services for male survivors of sexual abuse (MSSA) that include peer support for male survivors of sexual abuse and their support networks. Services to address harmful sexual behaviours (HSBS) that include the delivery of information, assessment and treatment for nonmandated adults who have engaged in concerning or harmful sexual behaviour. A (multi-channel) National Sexual Violence Helpline - Safe to talk - He pai ki te korero: that provides 24-hour helpline support with other ways of engagement such as web-chat and text messaging. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has commissioned an evaluation of the changes from Budget 16 and beyond -- The evaluation aims to: assess the implementation of service development and outcomes of SSHS evaluate the changes in each separate provider initiative work-stream and the extent the services achieve the desired aims evaluate the extent the service changes improve access for people who need the services and reduce the impact of sexual harm. The evaluation team worked collaboratively with the MSD project team, specialist service providers and TOAH-NNEST to plan the evaluation. An overarching logic model provides the foundation for the evaluation and sets out the national level activities and outputs and how they align with service provider activities and outputs to achieve the desired outcomes. The evaluation includes a formative, process and an impact evaluation. This report is the formative evaluation report - the first evaluation report -- It describes the four specialist services funded by MSD to minimise the impact of sexual harm, and service providers' perspectives on what is working well and what is challenging. The report covers overall SSHS workforce demographics, confidence and competence in working with Maori and other cultural groups. Changes to the sector through Budget 16 preceded the start of the evaluation. Information to inform this report was sourced from: A review of relevant documents comprising Select Committee documents, iMSD evaluation plans and MSD background documents and workforce development plans. We also completed a limited review of the literature to inform the development of our evaluation plan. Interviews with 42 of 43 MSD funded specialist sexual harm service providers 31 SHCSS, eight MSSA services and three HSBS). Most interviews were completed in-person. It is important to note that services held multiple contracts with agencies and supported clients and whanau in a variety of ways. Services self-defined as kaupapa Maori or tauiwi services. An online survey of the specialist sexual harm provider workforce to describe the workforce and changes in the workforce in response to the additional funding for the sector. Service provider managers were asked to complete the surveys themselves and to send an invitation email and a link to the survey to their teams who worked on MSD funded SSHS for adults, including part-time and full-time permanent and contracted staff, administrators and volunteers. The survey was completed by 133 people. .... Details: Wellington: Ministry of Social Development, 2018. 101p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 2, 2019 at: https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/initiatives/family-and-sexual-violence/specialist-services/formative-evaluation-final-2019-01-30.pdf Year: 2018 Country: New Zealand URL: https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/initiatives/family-and-sexual-violence/specialist-services/formative-evaluation-final-2019-01-30.pdf Shelf Number: 155272 Keywords: Counseling Services Crisis Centers Rape Sexual AbuseSexual Assault Sexual Violence Victim Services |
Author: Henry, Nicola Title: Responding to 'revenge pornography': Prevalence, nature and impacts Summary: Executive summary -- Research aims and design - Image-based sexual abuse (IBSA) is a term used to describe a pattern of behaviours involving the non-consensual creation, distribution, or threats to distribute, nude or sexual images (photographs or videos). Also known as 'revenge pornography' or 'non-consensual pornography', IBSA affects a significant proportion of the population and has wide-ranging and significant impacts. This report provides an empirical account of IBSA in Australia, including documenting the prevalence, nature and impacts of victimisation and perpetration, and analysing the effects of existing and proposed laws governing IBSA in Australia. The study addresses three key questions: 1. What is the nature and prevalence of IBSA in Australia, and what are the impacts on victims? 2. What are the merits and limitations of existing Australian and comparative legislative models for responding to IBSA? 3. What are the perceptions of key legal, policy and support stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of existing legislation and the need for new legislative models for responding to IBSA in Australia? The study involved a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology comprising the first ever national online survey of IBSA victimisation and perpetration; legislative analysis of criminal offences in Australia and internationally; stakeholder engagement; and 44 in-depth interviews conducted with 52 key stakeholders across three states (New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria). Key findings: National survey -- Prevalence: Victimisation -- The study found that 1 in 5 survey respondents (23%) reported being a victim of at least one form of IBSA. Most common among respondents were nude or sexual images taken of them without their consent, with 1 in 5 (20%) reporting these experiences. Also common were nude or sexual images being sent onto others or distributed without consent, with 1 in 10 (or 11%) reporting such experiences; a finding since replicated in a representative population-based national study commissioned by the Australian Office of the eSafety Commissioner (OeSC 2017). Nine per cent of survey respondents had experienced threats that a nude or sexual image would be sent onto others or distributed without their consent. The survey also found that 1 in 10 women reported someone taking an image of their cleavage without their permission ('downblousing') and 1 in 20 women reported someone taking an image up their skirt ('upskirting') without their permission. Overall, the study found that women and men reported similar rates of victimisation, however there were differences in the nature of IBSA between women and men. Significantly, the survey found that some members of the Australian community were more likely than others to report being a victim of IBSA. This included: 1 in 2 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; 1 in 2 Australians with a disability; 1 in 3 Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people; 1 in 3 young people aged 16 to 19 years; and 1 in 4 people aged 20 to 29 years. The study found that victims of IBSA were almost twice as likely as non-victims to report experiencing high levels of psychological distress. These impacts were highest for victims who had experienced threats to distribute an image, of whom 80% reported high levels of psychological distress, consistent with a diagnosis of moderate to severe depression and/or anxiety disorder. Prevalence: Perpetration -- In terms of self-disclosed perpetration, the survey found that 1 in 10 (10.1%) respondents reported engaging in at least one IBSA behaviour. Almost 9% said that they had taken a nude or sexual image of another person without that person's permission, and nearly 7% said that they had distributed a nude or sexual image without permission. One in 20 (5.4%) also reported making threats to another person that they would distribute their nude or sexual images. For all individual IBSA behaviours, the survey found that men were significantly more likely to report engaging in perpetration than women. Overall, 13.7% of men and 7.4% of women reported engaging in any IBSA perpetration. Perpetration was highest for males in the 20-29 (18.2%) and 30-39 (15.6%) age groups. For women, perpetration was highest at the 20-29 (9.3%) and 16-19 (9.1%) age groups, suggesting a younger cohort of women are engaging in IBSA perpetration as compared with men. The study also reported on the characteristics of IBSA perpetration. Most respondents said the victim was a partner/former partner (23.7%), a family member (19.7%) or a friend (17.2%). In keeping with the victimisation findings, perpetrators reported similar numbers of males as female victims (males 34.8%; females 37%). The study found a disturbing level of victim-blaming and harm minimisation attitudes among respondents. Overall, 1 in 2 men (50%) and 1 in 3 women (30%) held attitudes that either minimised the harms or blamed the victims. Despite widely-held victim-blaming attitudes among survey respondents, 4 in 5 Australian respondents (81%) agreed with the statement 'It should be a crime for someone else to share a nude or sexual image of another person without that person's permission'. These findings demonstrate the importance of education to address problematic and inconsistent community attitudes on IBSA. A particularly pertinent finding was that 4 in 5 (81%) respondents agreed with the statement: 'It should be a crime for someone to share a nude or sexual image of another person without that person's permission'. Females (84%) were significantly more likely than males (77%) to endorse the criminalisation of IBSA. Both victims (81%) and non-victims (81%) of IBSA were just as likely to agree that it should be a crime. Perpetrators (77%) were somewhat less likely to agree that IBSA should be a crime than non-perpetrators (81%), though the margin of difference was not statistically significant. These findings indicate that there is broad support within the Australian community regarding the need for legal consequences in response to IBSA, regardless of whether someone has experienced it personally as either a victim or perpetrator. Key findings: Stakeholder interviews -- Importance of specific criminal offences Like the survey respondents, stakeholder participants indicated overwhelming support for the introduction of consistent federal and state/territory laws that criminalise IBSA. In particular, the study found majority support for federal leadership in creating a national approach to criminalising IBSA, which would then be mirrored across all states and territories. Participants stated that criminal laws send a clear message to the community that these behaviours will not be tolerated, recognising the significant harms associated with IBSA and providing scope for law enforcement to treat such behaviours more seriously. Definitions Participants expressed concerns about the most appropriate definitions to include in legislation to capture the varying contexts in which IBSA occurs. This was specifically mentioned in relation to defining 'distribution' and what constitutes an 'intimate image'. For most participants, it was important that: the definition of distribution includes 'showing' not just 'sending' or 'posting online'; an offence occurs regardless of whether the image was distributed to one or more people; and the offence is not premised on the distribution occurring through a telecommunications style carriage service. There was more conjecture around the definition of intimate images, but ultimately consensus emerged in relation to capturing nude, semi-nude and images of a sexual nature, in instances where one would have a reasonable expectation of privacy. Requirement of intent and proof of harm In keeping with current Australian legislative provisions (but differing from some international laws), participants overwhelmingly agreed that IBSA laws should not require the prosecutor to prove either that the perpetrator intended to cause harm or distress, or that the victim did in fact experience harm or serious emotional distress. 'Morph porn' -- All but three of the 52 stakeholder participants expressed support for the inclusion of digitally manipulated images (otherwise known as 'morph porn' or 'deepfakes') in IBSA legislation. Those that did not support this requirement (which is captured in the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory laws introduced in 2017) argued that the harm caused to victims was not as significant, therefore it did not require legislative intervention. Non-sexual forms While expressing concern regarding the cultural harms experienced by victims through the creation, distribution, or threat of distribution, of an intimate but not sexual image, the majority of participants rejected calls to include cultural standards (e.g. the non-consensual distribution of an image showing a Muslim woman without her hijab) in IBSA legislation at the current time. Barriers to victim-reporting -- Participants identified a range of challenges that hindered victims from reporting to police. Prominent on this list was a victim-blaming and harm minimisation mentality among law enforcement personnel. In addition to supporting better training for law enforcement in responding to victims, there was also majority support for introducing victim anonymity protections similar to those in place for other sexual offences to safeguard the privacy of victims and encourage increased levels of reporting. Penalties -- Participants supported a range of penalties for those found guilty of IBSA offences that included imprisonment, on the provision that this was not the first resort for young people. There was also support expressed for greater penalties for website hosts and organisations involved in profiting from IBSA. Law enforcement challenges -- There were a number of law enforcement challenges that were identified by stakeholders. These included: blurred jurisdictional boundaries; procuring sufficient evidence to mount a case; resource restrictions; a lack of technical knowledge; and/or awareness of applicable legislation. The challenges of implementing effective IBSA law are further reflected in low prosecution rates in Australia. In Victoria, for example, police data reveals that between 1 January 2015 and 18 July 2017, there have been 53 cases (28 arrests) of intentionally observing another person's genital or anal region (Summary Offences Act 1966 (Vic) s41A); 415 cases (62 arrests) of the non-consensual distribution of an intimate image (Summary Offences Act 1966 (Vic) 41DA); and 144 cases (52 arrests) of threatening to distribute an intimate image (Summary Offences Act 1966 (Vic) 41DB). These low reporting figures are in contrast to the survey finding that 1 in 5 Australian respondents have experienced IBSA victimisation, suggestive of a level of ineffectiveness in the existing Victorian legislation - which is likely connected to challenges in policing. Recommendations This report makes key recommendation concerning strengthened legal options, working collaboratively with key stakeholders (such as law enforcement, companies, website moderators and support services), knowledge sharing, extending victim support services, developing primary prevention education directed at perpetrators, and further research. Details: Canberra: Criminology Research Advisory Council, 2019. 129p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 10, 2019 at: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1819/08-1516-FinalReport.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1819/08-1516-FinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 155355 Keywords: Image-Based Abuse Online Victimization Pornography Revenge Pornography Sexual Abuse |
Author: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Title: Statistics briefing: harmful sexual behaviour Summary: This briefing looks at what data and statistics are available about harmful sexual behaviour to help professionals, and the organisations they work for, make evidence based decisions. How common is harmful sexual behaviour? We do not know the true number of children and young people affected by harmful sexual behaviour (HSB). HSB covers a wide range of behaviours, many of which do not come to the attention of authorities. However some attempts to estimate the prevalence of HSB have been made using data from children's self-reported experiences of sexual abuse by peers and services which work with children with HSB. From this research we can estimate that around a third of child sexual abuse is by other children and young people. Findings from the data There is some cross-over between online and offline HSB and between child sexual exploitation and HSB. Harmful sexual behaviour is most commonly identified in adolescent boys, but girls and younger children can also exhibit HSB. A significant proportion of children with HSB also have a learning disability. The majority of children with HSB have themselves experienced trauma, including abuse or neglect. The majority of children and young people displaying HSB do not become sexual offenders as adults. Young people who display HSB often experience other emotional, behavioural and peer related difficulties. Details: London: Author, 2019. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 26, 2019 at: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/media/1661/statistics-briefing-harmful-sexual-behaviour.pdf Year: 2019 Country: International URL: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/media/1661/statistics-briefing-harmful-sexual-behaviour.pdf Shelf Number: 155562 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse Evidence-Based Policies Harmful Sexual Behavior Sexual AbuseSocial Media Youthful Sexual Behavior |
Author: Sathyanarayanan, Sunethra Title: Iraq - Country Overview. A report on the scale, scope and context of the sexual exploitation of children Summary: Iraq has a total population of more than 37 million, of which 47% are children. Years of conflict, including insurgency from the militant group Da'esh (also known as ISIL) and hosting up to 250,00 refugees from neighbouring Syria, have exacerbated the range of risks that children face, including to sexual exploitation. Boys and girls from persecuted groups have faced high levels of sexual violence and exploitation either through recruitment into ISIL forces or through sexual enslavement by its members. Other children resorted to survival sex in desperation to escape the environment of violence and abuse and the lack of livelihood opportunities. Poverty and extremely limited opportunities force people, including boys and girls into exploitative conditions in order to survive or provide for their families. Boys have reported being required to provide sexual services to receive their wages in some working conditions. Girls escaping violence, abuse, forced marriages or so-called 'honour killings' are exploited by recruiters. Details of elaborate systems established for trafficking women and girls have been reported in areas previously controlled by ISIL. National law enforcement and protection systems are stretched beyond breaking point, which has led to situations that allow child sex offenders to abuse with impunity. Instances of sexual exploitation of children through prostitution have been reportedly protected by complicit police and security forces. Instances of IDP and refugee At a Glance camp administrators have also been exposed as demanding sex, including with children, for food. Sharp increases in access to technology see 80% of 15-year olds having access to a mobile phone, with many also online via these devices. Risks are increased from the big generational gap in Internet use meaning parents are unaware of the risks to online sexual exploitation that children face. Cases of sexual extortion where perpetrators threaten to expose private images have been reported that can lead to ongoing instances of sexual exploitation or even trafficking. Since the retreat of ISIL forces in 2017, tourism has surged, particularly in the more stable Kurdistan Region of Iraq region, with tourist numbers hitting 1.3 million within the first half of 2018. As tourism grows, so may sexual exploitation of children in this context. While the legal age for marriage is 18, many marriages are conducted outside the formal legal system without registration, meaning child marriage rates are likely to be higher than the roughly 24% of girls that has been reported. Child marriage can be viewed as a protection mechanism. For example, it was used to prevent girls being married to men associated with ISIL, or families in poverty benefit from bride price. Fasliya marriages (gifting a female to another tribe through marriage) are also practiced in some areas, particularly the south of the country. Details: Bangkok, Thailand: ECPAT International, 2019. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2019 at: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Iraq-ECPAT-International-Country-Overview-Report-2019.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Iraq URL: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Iraq-ECPAT-International-Country-Overview-Report-2019.pdf Shelf Number: 155622 Keywords: Child MarriageChild ProstitutionChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationSexual Abuse |
Author: Organization of American States Title: Explotacion Sexual Comercial de Ninos, Ninas y Adolescentes e Internet (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, Girls and Adolescents and the Internet) Summary: The Inter-American Institute of Children and Adolescents (IIN) (link), in follow-up to the Resolution of the OAS General Assembly AG / RES, 1667 (XXIX-0/99), of June 7, 1999, annually a Report to the Secretary General of the OAS on the measures undertaken by the member states to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents (CSEC) in the Americas. On this occasion, the X Report to the Secretary General has been prepared with a thematic emphasis on the relationship between the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adolescents and the Internet. The growing importance that new communication technologies have taken in the daily life of the population as a whole and the different ownership that the new generations have made of them have made the Internet a new social space to which children and adolescents access and in which interact intensively and with little supervision of adults. This opens a new scenario for the realization of rights such as access to information, expression, meeting, access to culture, but in this new space, new versions of old threats and forms of infringement of rights also arise. these rights. Examples of these are expressions of violence, discriminatory content and new forms of production and commercialization of images of sexual content, configuring a new form of CSEC. Details: Montevideo, Uruguay: Organizacion de los Estados Americanos, 2011. 31p. Source: Internet Resource (in Spanish): Accessed June 10, 2019 at: https://www.bienestaryproteccioninfantil.es/fuentes1.asp?sec=14&subs=52&cod=796&page= Year: 2011 Country: Latin America URL: https://www.bienestaryproteccioninfantil.es/imagenes/tablaContenidos03SubSec/ESIA_internet.pdf Shelf Number: 156334 Keywords: Child Pornography Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Commercial Sexual Exploitation Internet Crimes Sexual Abuse |
Author: Salter, Michael Title: "Sorting it Out: Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer" (GBTIQ) Men's Attitudes and Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault Summary: This report presents data from an IPV and SA survey with 895 GBTIQ men who currently live in Australia. The primary focus of the survey was on IPV in same-sex relationships. The survey included questions about SA, and some men included additional information on SA via open-ended questions. The survey did not seek to measure the prevalence of criminal victimisation or perpetration in relationships but instead focused on men's views and experiences of healthy and unhealthy relationships. The report begins with a brief literature review summarising current knowledge of violence and abuse in GBTIQ men's relationships and their experiences of services and support, before presenting key findings from a national online survey on GBTIQ men's: -Personal experiences of abuse and violence; -Attitudes and understandings of what constitutes abusive or unethical behaviour in relationships; -Awareness of abuse and violence in their social networks; and, -Willingness to intervene as bystanders. The data outlined in this report offer a unique insight into the ways IPV and SA are constructed by GBTIQ men. The men's understandings are informed by their own lived experience but also by increasing public awareness of the impact of violence and abuse in intimate relationships. The project findings presented here are intended to inform ongoing community conversations and program development to support GBTIQ men's safe and healthy relationships and provide GBTIQ men with the messages and skills they are looking for to intervene in abusive or unethical behaviours and attitudes in their own communities. Details: Sydney: Western Sydney University, Sexualities and Gender Research and ACON, 2019. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 10, 2019 at: https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Sexual_Assault Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://www.academia.edu/Documents/in/Rape_and_Sexual_Assault_Law Shelf Number: 156142 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence LGBTIQ Physical Abuse Relationship Violence Sexual Abuse |
Author: International Justice Mission Title: Guatemalan Criminal Justice System Performance Study, 2008-2012: Indicators of Practice, Process and Resolution within Cases of Child Sexual Assault Summary: This study analyzes the performance of Guatemala's criminal justice system (CJS) in cases of sexual assault. The main goal of this study is to contribute to the efforts of the CJS in improving the response of the system to cases of child sexual assault (CSA). This study uses database reports from the Public Ministry's (MP) Information Control System (SICOMP) from 2008 to 2012. These reports included information about complaints filed, accusations, sentences, pre-trial testimonies, victims, and the status of cases at the national level. Moreover, reports from the Judicial System's National Center of Analysis and Documentation (CENADOJ) of terminated processes during the years 2008-2010 were also used. The CENADOJ reports consisted of data pertaining to child sexual abuse crimes in the departments of Quezaltenango, Guatemala, and Alta Verapaz. These departments have the highest rates of child sexual abuse complaints in all of Guatemala. From this data, 182 records were selected and this information provided first-hand accounts of judicial practices. In addition to the quantitative data provided by SICOMP, such as the data collected from the judicial records with a final sentence between 2008 and 2010, 75 officials from the CJS who intervene in CSA cases and 22 officials from social agencies were interviewed. These interviews captured their perspective on the development of the Guatemalan CJS. 60 prosecutors and assistant prosecutors from the MP were also interviewed to capture their experience with procedural outcomes in the cases of sexual crimes committed against children. The methodology also was validated before a panel of experts and criminal law scholars. The majority of their contributions are included in this study's analysis. The data was discussed with MP officials from SICOMP, with whom the numbers and interpretation of data were clarified. Lastly, the report was presented to high-level officials from the MP and the Judicial Branch (OJ). All these activities allowed for a wide validation of, and transparency in this study. One of the main findings of the study was that Guatemala has adapted the internal regulations to international standards (2009), but the main problem lies in the effective implementation of the regulatory framework. However, the system has made significant progress as new best practices for the protection and holistic attention of children begin to be applied in cases of CSA. Despite changes in the law and the introduction of Decree 9-2009, the Law Against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and Trafficking of Persons, Guatemala continues to have high numbers of complaints of sexual assault. In the last five years, 36,166 cases were reported, making it the seventh mostreported crime within the Public Ministry in 20144. Of these complaints, 44% of victims were minors and the majority, female. Based on the analysis of the sample, nearly 90% of the perpetrators were individuals known to the child. Nationally, the Public Prosecutor's Office reported 9.4% complaints of assault between 2008 and 2012. Of these complaints, only 5.86% ended in a verdict. Of these verdicts (182 cases), 80% resulted in a conviction and 20% ended in an acquittal. The study also found that child victims were required to recount their story to approximately eight different professionals, each from a different criminal justice system institution. The sample showed that the mechanisms to avoid the re-traumatization of minors in the criminal process are under-utilized. Only 1.52% of CSA cases between 2008 and 2012 applied pre-trial testimony procedures. In very few instances were adequate locations used to hear the testimonies of child victims, or screens used at trial to protect the victim from the view of the perpetrator. During the years of this study, training for CJS officials was insufficient and sporadic. Official training procedures lacked both consistency and the capacity to monitor the implementation of training content. The study makes it possible to examine the situation of child victims in cases of sexual assault and to establish a baseline of indicators in the attention, processing and resolution of these cases. The main recommendations of this study are: -Public policy should be designed to strengthen deterrence, in order to prevent minors from becoming victims of sexual crimes. -Policies that adopt mechanisms to provide proper treatment for minors who have been victims of sexual assault crimes should be implemented within the different institutions of the CJS, such as the Public Ministry's Model for Holistic Attention. -CJS institutions should develop reliable systems that permit the interconnection and exchange of information for strategic decision making, in order to avoid sub-records or inconsistent records. -There is an urgent need for the implementation of coordination mechanisms between the Public Ministry - as the directing unit of the investigation- and the National Civil Police, to conduct key investigations in the least amount of time possible. -The CJS should not support the application of alternative conclusions to the criminal process in cases of rape or other crimes of sexual assault against minors. -Inter-institutional coordination should be promoted within the CJS to avoid an excess of testimonies from the child. -Judges, prosecutors and other officials from the CJS should be aware of the traumatic effects of the criminal process and what methods they can use to reduce them. This includes the use of the pre-trial testimony in the case of minor victims of sexual crimes. Proper locations should be sought out to create better conditions for children to give their testimonies, and the recording of these testimonies should consistently apply the attention/care protocols. -The training units from the different institutions of the legal sector should develop and implement a training process on the issues of protection, investigation, sanction and restitution of damages for minors who have been victims of sexual assault crimes. This process should include methodology to evaluate the incorporation of the acquired knowledge when delivering services. Details: Guatemala City, Guatemala: International Justice Mission, 2013. 149p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2019 at: https://www.ijm.org/documents/studies/Guatemala-Public-Justice-System-Performance-Study.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Guatemala URL: https://www.ijm.org/studies/guatemalan-criminal-justice-system-performance-study-2008-2012 Shelf Number: 156546 Keywords: Child Sexual AssaultChild VictimsGuatemalaSentencesSexual AbuseSexual AssaultSexual CrimesTrafficking of PersonsViolence Against Girls |
Author: Franks, Mary Anne Title: "Revenge Porn" Reform: A View from the Front Lines Summary: Abstract: The legal and social landscape of "revenge porn" has changed dramatically in the last few years. Before 2013, only three states criminalized the unauthorized disclosure of sexually explicit images of adults and few people had ever heard the term "revenge porn." As of July 2017, thirty-eight states and Washington, D.C. had criminalized the conduct; federal criminal legislation on the issue had been introduced in Congress; Google, Facebook, and Twitter had banned nonconsensual pornography from their platforms; and the term "revenge porn" had been added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. I have had the privilege of playing a role in many of these developments. In 2013, I argued that nonconsensual pornography required a federal criminal response and drafted a model statute to this effect. That statute served as the template for what eventually became the federal Intimate Privacy Protection Act of 2016, as well as for numerous state laws criminalizing nonconsensual pornography. As the Legislative and Tech Policy Director of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, I have worked with tech industry leaders, legislators, attorneys, victims, and advocates to develop policies and solutions to combat this abuse. This Article is an account from the front lines of the legislative, technological, and social reform regarding this evolving problem. Details: Miami, Florida: University of Miami, School of Law, 2016. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2019 at: http://www.floridalawreview.com/wp-content/uploads/3-Franks.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2853789 Shelf Number: 156965 Keywords: Image-Based Abuse Nonconsensual Pornography Online Victimization Pornography Revenge Pornography Sexual Abuse |