The South African Human Rights Commission has long been concerned about the continuing practice of involving children in prostitution and other sexual offences against children. After several initiatives during the past 4 years, the Commission decided to hold public hearings on child sexual offences.

These public hearings will initially focus on the Gauteng Province. The Terms of Reference for the hearings were posted in the Government Gazette on 27 October 2000, (Notice No. 4109 - Sexual Offences Against Children). They will take place between 12 and 15 March 2001. The following areas have been identified: Bronkhorstspruit, Heidelberg, Soweto and Kathorus. The hearings will be open to the media and members of the public.

To date, the SAHRC Legal Investigators have perused files in police stations in the above-mentioned areas, and will be looking at court records as well.

The Commission will appreciate input from individuals, organisations and government departments on why the system that deals with child sexual offences does not work to protect the most vulnerable in our midst. The findings of the hearings will address the weak links in the system and target them to ensure that they are strengthened.

The SAHRC is aware of the sensitive nature of such a probe, and the rights of individuals to confidentiality and respect will be upheld during these hearings. The focus is strictly looking at problems in the system, and not the details of individual cases. On the basis of this, we hope that there will be voluntary co-operation from those with information, in order to make the hearings address the best interest of children who are sexually abused.

Following are the dates and venues of the Hearings:
23rd and 24th April - Zithobeni Community Hall, Bronkhorstspruit
24th and 25th April - Thokoza Auditorium, Kathorus
2nd and 3rd May - Dube YWCA, Soweto

Issued by the South African Human Rights Commission Johannesburg,
28th March 2001
For further information, please contact Phumla Mthala Tel: 011) 4848300 Cell:0832883339

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