Research glossary

medicine
used to prevent HIV infection, STIs and
pregnancy as a result of rape

an adult who has romantic relation
- ships and/or sex with children

A sexual deviance. The behaviors often involve a pattern of recurrent, compulsive, or intense sexual urges and
behaviors involving unusual sexual behaviors or targets, such as young children. These specific targets or
behaviors may be necessary for an individual to experience sexual arousal, or may co-exist with more
normative sexual targets and behaviors (National Center on Sexual Behavior of Youth, 2003).

non-violent refusal to cooperate

According to the personal status laws, it’s the exclusive right of the man to represent his minor children who are
born from a legitimate marriage, and to represent the children of his sons (not of the daughters).This authority
includes the child’s person and his money; and thus he can, because of his proved compassion, dispose of that
money or make contracts in the child’s name. If his immorality got proven, the judge has the right to take away
that authority from him.
- According to this authority, the father, and not the mother, is held responsible for the child’s alimony.

Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and dominate in leadership roles, establishing moral authority, acquiring social privilege, and in the control of property. Patriarchy is a form of colonial governance.

Paedophilia refers to a sexual attraction to pre-pubertal children (generally children under the age of 13). Children cannot legally or ethically consent to sexual activity. Any sexual involvement with a child is abuse and a serious criminal offence in South Africa.

It is important to distinguish between a psychological attraction and criminal behaviour. While paedophilia describes the attraction itself, acting on that attraction by engaging in sexual contact, grooming, exploitation, or creating or sharing sexual images of children is child sexual abuse and punishable by law.
Many cases of paedophilia involve manipulation, grooming, secrecy, and abuse of trust, especially when the perpetrator is known to the child or family.

Under South Africa’s Sexual Offences Act (2007), penetration includes any act where something enters another person’s body to any extent, including genital, anal, or oral penetration.

This legal definition is used in sexual offence cases and applies regardless of whether an object or body part is used.

A perpetrator is a person who commits a harmful or criminal act. In legal contexts, they may also be referred to as the accused, offender, or respondent.

Survivors have the right to choose the language that feels safest and most empowering to them.

A perpetrator is a person, group, or institution that directly inflicts, supports and condones violence or other abuse against a person or a group of persons. Perpetrators are in a position of real or perceived power, decision-making and/or authority and can thus exert control over their victims.

Perpetrators of violence come from various age, socio-economic, cultural, sexual orientation, ethnic, and religious demographics. Perpetrators of domestic violence are most commonly male

A person, group, or institution that directly inflicts, supports and condones violence or other abuse against a
person or a group of persons. Perpetrators are in a position of real or perceived power, decision-making and/or
authority and can thus exert control over their victims (UNHCR, 2003).
- Aggressor, perpetrator, and offender are words used to provide the same meaning

: the person(s) accused of performing the sexual acts as set out in the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 32
of 2007. In this report the perpetrator is also interchangeably referred to as the offender.

Persons with disability include those who have or are perceived to have, physical, psychosocial, intellectual, neurological and/ or sensory impairments which, as a result of various attitudinal, communication, physical and information barriers that hinder their participating fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others.

Intentional use or threatened use of physical force against a family member or intimate partner. It includes, but is not limited to, pushing, hitting, cutting, punching, slapping, shoving, and strangulation.

Physical abuse is the most obvious kind of [gender-based violence], but it is not the most common and is not necessarily the most serious. It is the intentional infliction of pain or injury by slapping, shoving, punching, strangling, kicking, burning, stabbing and/or shooting; using a weapon or other objects to threaten, hurt or kill; abducting a woman or keeping her imprisoned.

this refers to whether the accused pleads ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ to the charge of rape. The criminal trial offi cially
begins once the accused makes his/her plea

these are popularly termed ‘plea bargains’. These agreements may be entered
between the state and the accused. The accused pleads guilty to charges in exchange for a lesser sentence.

When a person has been exposed to a traumatic event in which both of the following were present:
• The person experienced, witnessed, or was confronted with an event/events that involved actual or threatened
death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others.
• The person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror cognition (American Psychiatric
Association, DSM 4, 2000).

One of the most serious and troubling issues for many women who have left an abusive relationship is the misapprehension held by many professionals in the family court system that the abuse ends at the time of separation. In fact, post-separation violence – any tactics used by an abuser that stop a woman from leaving, retaliate for her departure or force her return – can have significant long-term consequences and can even result in death.

The initial period of separation, when the violence continues and possibly escalates, is also when separated couples are the most likely to be involved in difficult and contested family court proceedings. These proceedings can take on a deadly tone for families where there has been a history of woman abuse.

Women who have experienced trauma can develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There are three categories of PTSD symptoms

Intrusive re-experiencing: Symptoms in which the trauma victim re-experiences traumatic events or feelings in ways that intrude on everyday life. Flashbacks and traumatic nightmares are vivid recollections of the trauma or an aspect of the trauma. During a flashback, one may see, hear or smell aspects of the trauma, or may have bodily sensations or body memories connected to the trauma. People who have flashbacks can feel as if they are going crazy or are out of control. Flashbacks are actually the brain’s attempt to integrate the traumatic material. Until this is accomplished, flashbacks can be extremely disruptive to one’s daily life.

Avoidance: Avoiding things or situations associated with the trauma – Following a trauma, individuals may avoid certain things that have become associated with the trauma; for example, a place or an activity. This can generalize to other things and leave someone feeling quite constricted in their life.

Hyperarousal: Individuals may always feel on edge or as if they have to be aware of everything around them. Individuals may suffer from insomnia or persistent restlessness.