Youth and Teen violence is an emerging priority area in relation to gender violence.

Worldwide some 250 000 homicides occur among youth 10-29 years of age each year – 41% of the annual total number of homicides globally. For each young person killed, 20-40 more sustain injuries requiring hospital treatment. Youth violence has a serious, often lifelong, impact on a person’s psychological and social functioning. Source: WHO Youth Violence.

Teens can be both the victims or the perpetrators of violence. Violence committed by and against young people permeates all levels of society, in every country across the world.

“Interpersonal violence – in all its forms – has a grave effect on children: Violence undermines children’s future potential; damages their physical, psychological and emotional well-being; and in many cases, ends their lives”.

A report (by Unicef), “sheds light on the prevalence of different forms of violence against children, with global figures and data from 190 countries. Where relevant, data are disaggregated by age and sex, to provide insights into risk and protective factors”. Source: United Nations Children’s Fund, Hidden in Plain Sight: A statistical analysis of violence against children, UNICEF, New York, 2014. Click here to view the report.

‘45% of rapes reported to the police in South Africa are child rapes, and 50% of South Africa’s children will be abused before the age of 18, according to South Africa’s Tears Foundation and the Medical Research Council. Click here to view the report.

Video: The Lost Girls of South Africa

Sexting

‘Sexting’ has been found to be commonplace amongst children and young people. There was a 28% increase in calls to ChildLine in 2012/13 (compared to the previous year), that mentioned ‘sexting’ – nearly one every day. Most young people do not see ‘sexting’ as a problem and are reluctant to talk to adults about it because they are afraid of being judged or having their phones taken away.

Sending pictures and inappropriate content has become normal teenage behaviour.

The NSPCC highlights the dangers of sexting:

• It’s easy to send a photo or message but the sender has no control about how it’s passed on.
• When images are stored or shared online they become public. They can be deleted on social media or may only last a few seconds on apps like Snapchat, but images can still be saved or copied by others.
• These images may never be completely removed and could be found in the future, for example when applying for jobs or university.
• Young people may think ‘sexting’ is harmless but it can leave them vulnerable to:Blackmail – An offender may threaten to share the pictures with the child’s family and friends unless the child sends money or more images.Bullying – If images are shared with their peers or in school, the child may be bullied. Unwanted attention – Images posted online can attract the attention of sex offenders, who know how to search for, collect and modify images.Emotional distress – Children can feel embarrassed and humiliated. If they are very distressed this could lead to suicide or self-harm. Click here. 

 

Video: ‘Exposed’. This 10 minute drama has been designed for 14 to 18 year olds. ‘Exposed’ deals with the subjects of sexting and cyberbullying, issues that teenagers commonly face. Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP)

 Cyberbullying

To read our previous #16days story on Cyberbullying with an interview with Scott Freeman, CEO of Cybersmile click here.

Flaw in the Law

 

The NSPCC is calling for a clear new law to make it always illegal for an adult to send a child a sexual message. Find out more about the campaign Flaw in the Law here.

 Girls and Violence: Soroptimists making a difference, by Dr Donna Swift, Social Anthropologist

“I am a social anthropologist and for years I have been passionate about ending male violence towards females. President-Elect Yvonne Simpson has kindly asked for me to share the important role Soroptimist International New Zealand has played in supporting my work through their National Project of 2011-2013.

First a bit of background, in 2005 my research took a radical twist and I began focusing on violence perpetuated by females, namely girl against girl.  This received the criticism that I was latently diluting or swaying attention from the abuse females suffer at the hands of males. Yet I always remained adamant that patriarchal oppression was at the root of females’ use of violence.

In 2009, Stopping Violence Services Nelson, New Zealand obtained funding for me to conduct a study called The Girls’ Project. This research was carried out over two-years in the Tasman Police District, New Zealand’s largest policing region. It involved 3500 questionnaires collected from year 9 and 10 girls and boys allowing for gender comparison of their experiences of violence, 40 focus groups with naturally forming groups of girls between the ages of 12 and 18 and 100+ interviews with teenage girls directly involved in violent behaviour and referred by police, lawyers, school staff and social services.

The findings were both enlightening and deeply disturbing as they identified the range of violent and anti-social behaviour employed by some girls, how these practices had become normalised in their lives and how parents, teachers, media and society, often unwittingly, foster girls’ attitudes towards this behaviour and acceptance of its use. Sadly it was also my realization that girls’ violent response frequently corresponded to their feelings of anger and misery, and experiences of trauma. PDF copies of the research report can be downloaded from www.thegirlsproject.org.nz.

In 2010, my work came to the attention of Yvonne Simpson and Donna Kennedy of the Westland and the Nelson Soroptimists of New Zealand. Through their energy, support and encouragement, as well as that of their club members, ‘Cliques, Crews and Catfights: Moving Beyond Girls’ Violence became New Zealand’s National Project for 2011-13.  Clubs throughout New Zealand provided me with an opportunity to present my work along with the girls’ stories to communities, schools and professionals. Sadly, the plight of these girls had been obscured by the rhetoric of ‘girl power’ and a continual ‘what about our boys’ focus.  This National Project served to remind and encourage New Zealand not to overlook our girls.

It is with appreciation that I remember the fundraising commitment made by each club so the National Project could happen, along with the hours of networking, organising and promoting that each club did so that I could come to their community to raise awareness of our girls. The most memorable outcomes from the National Project was meeting so many wonderful Soroptimist women who hosted me.  I was also fortunate to present at the Pacific Conference of Clubs held in Hotikita, New Zealand. This extended my connections with Soroptimist clubs in Australia who have hosted my presentations and it is through this wonderful network that I gave a talk to Soroptimist women in Peterborough, Canada.

As a result of the National project, the profile of my work gained significant recognition throughout New Zealand. In July this year I was honoured to receive the Sonja Davies Peace Award. Sonja Davies is a New Zealand heroine who endlessly fought for women’s social rights.

My research continues to explore the ideology of patriarchy and the influence that a background of family violence has on girls’ use of violence. In particular, I have recently begun researching concerns for girls living in rural locations that are predominated by a hyper-masculine culture”.