South African Crime Quarterly 16

Individual articles are hosted on the Academy of Science of South Africa's Open Access Journals system. To access individual articles for this edition, click here

Recent media reports have highlighted incidents of violence and crimes against children and young people in South Africa. Yet, up till now, there has been little exploration of the extent and nature of criminal victimisation against youth. Patrick Burton assesses Results of the national youth victimisation study.

Crime and violence are pervasive in South Africa, and children and young people in particular are exposed to high rates of violence within their homes. Lezanne Leoschut demonstrates that exposure to family violence increases the vulnerability of young people to becoming victims of crime.

In terms of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 182 of 1999, adults using children to commit criminal offences is considered to be one of the worst forms of child labour. Through an ILO and Department of Labour programme focusing on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in South Africa, a study was undertaken to explore this issue, and engaged 541 children in consultation. The results of the study are discussed by Cheryl Frank, and the value that such studies hold for crime analysis is briefly considered.

Chandré Gould discusses countering human trafficking, by looking into the May 2006  South African Law Reform Commission  discussion paper and draft legislation on human trafficking. In order to successfully identify, investigate and prosecute cases of trafficking, law enforcement agencies need a clear understanding of what constitutes trafficking.

Nicolé Fick investigates Police abuse of sex workers when making arrests, findings from various studies reflect a worrying lack of respect for the basic human and constitutional rights of the most vulnerable in South African society.