Research glossary

“Bilateral violence is a controversial concept and experts do not agree about its characteristics. It occurs when both partners within a relationship are violent towards each other. Understanding this issue is challenging. Data on intimate partner violence are not always collected to reflect that relationships can be complex and dynamic. Data can also span a wide spectrum of behaviours, from unhealthy conflict (sometimes known as common couple violence) in a relationship to severe physical and psychological abuse (sometimes known as intimate terrorism).”

Fear and/or hatred of bisexuality, often exhibited by acts of name-calling, bullying, exclusion, prejudice, discrimination or through acts of violence. Anyone who is or is assumed to be bisexual or experiences attraction to multiple sexes and/or genders can be the target of biphobia.

“Bullying is characterized by acts of intentional harm, repeated over-time, in a relationship where an imbalance of power exists. It includes physical actions (punching, kicking, biting), verbal actions (threats, name calling, insults, racial or sexual comments), and social exclusion (spreading rumours, ignoring, gossiping, excluding).”

is a unique reference number allocated to the case by the SAPS Case Administration System. This is the
number that the police will use to track and trace the docket on its journey through the criminal justice system.

Violence perpetrated by paid or unpaid individuals who provide help with daily activities and support. Caregivers can be family, personal support workers, home support worker, housekeepers, and respite workers. Caregiver violence can come in multiple forms including sexual abuse, financial abuse, physical abuse, and neglect. Women who are older and women living with disabilities may be particularly targeted for caregiver violence.

Catcalling (street harassment) is unwanted behaviour in public spaces that makes someone feel unsafe, objectified, or intimidated. It’s not “a compliment” – it’s often about power, entitlement, and control, and it supports rape culture by normalising disrespect and harassment.

Catcalling can escalate into stalking, physical harassment, or assault, especially when someone refuses attention.

Examples: Whistling, sexual comments, following someone, blocking their path, repeatedly demanding a number, or insulting them when they ignore you

is a formal document prepared by the prosecutor, in which it is alleged that the accused is guilty of a
specifi c crime or crimes.

as set out in the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, a child means a person under the age of 18 years.

Child abduction is when a child is unlawfully taken or kept away from their parent or legal guardian. This can happen in family situations (custody conflict) or through manipulation, grooming, or force.

Children can be abducted by someone they know (a neighbour, family friend, relative) or a stranger. Abduction may be linked to trafficking, exploitation, or domestic violence.

Example: A parent refusing to return a child after a visit without legal permission can also be a form of abduction.

Child abuse is any action, or failure to act, that harms a child’s physical safety, emotional well-being, or development. It can happen in any home, school, community, or religious setting, and abusers can be family members, caregivers, teachers, or people in the community.

Child abuse is not only physical. Emotional harm, neglect, and exposure to violence can deeply affect a child’s mental health and long-term safety. Common forms include: physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse.

- The imposition of sexual acts, or acts with sexual overtones, by one or more persons on a child (Save the
Children, 2003). It includes:
• Child Pornography; Pornographie des Enfants:
The visual depiction of a child engaged in explicit sexual conduct, real or simulated, or the lewd exhibition of
the genitals intended for the sexual gratification of the user, and involves the production, distribution and/or use
of such material (WHO, 1996).
• Child/Juvenile Prostitution; Prostitution des Enfants:
The act of engaging or offering the services of a child to perform sexual acts for money or other consideration
with that person or any other person (Ennew, 1986).
• Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children; Exploitation Sexuelle Commerciale des Enfants:
Sexual abuse by adults with remuneration in cash or kind to the child or a third person or persons. The child is
treated as a sexual object and as a commercial object (Clift and Simon, 2000).
• Molestation; Harcèlement Sexuel des Enfants:
Illegal sexual behaviors toward minors such as fondling; may include behaviors such as showing pornography
to minors or making lewd proposals to minors (American Psychiatric Association, DSM IV, 2000).
• Hands-Off Offense; Offense Sexuelle Sans Toucher:
Sexual offenses such as indecent exposure, making obscene phone calls, and “peeping” that do not involve
physical contact with the victim, distinguished from hands-on offenses such as rape or molestation. (National
Center on Sexual Behavior of Youth, 2003).

“Children can be exposed in a number of ways including seeing [domestic violence], hearing it, seeing the aftermath, or being told about it.” [“Research has indicated that exposure to DV can suppress a child’s IQ, lead to premature aging, and influence the functioning of the brain’s emotional systems in ways that can increase vulnerability to psychopathology. Research also showed that exposure to family violence (i.e., domestic violence and child maltreatment) was associated with heightened neural activity in children’s brains similar to that of soldiers exposed to violent combat situations. “Children who witness violence between parents may also be at greater risk of being violent in their future relationships or being victims of violence in their future relationships. The impact of being exposed to woman abuse on children varies depending on the child’s age and development stage but also on the individual child and the circumstances of their exposure.”

Child sexual abuse happens when a child is used for sexual purposes by an adult or older adolescent. It includes sexual touching, forced sexual acts, exposing a child to sexual content, or involving a child in sexual images or videos. Children cannot consent to sexual activity with adults. This is abuse and a crime.

Child sexual abuse is often committed by someone the child knows and trusts. Survivors may not disclose immediately; many do not speak for years. A delayed report does not make the abuse less real.

CSEM is the correct term for what is often wrongly called “child pornography.” It refers to any images, videos, or content that shows the sexual abuse or exploitation of a child. The term is important because it makes clear that this is abuse, not “adult content.” Creating, sharing, storing, or forwarding CSEM is a serious crime. Even sharing “as a warning” can cause further harm and keep the abuse circulating.

Example: A leaked nude image of a teenager shared in a WhatsApp group is CSEM and should not be forwarded.

Child-on-Child Sexual Abuse (COCSA) refers to sexual behaviour between children that happens without consent, without equality (age, development, power), or through pressure, manipulation, or force. It can involve threats, bribing, coercion, or using pornography to influence another child.

COCSA is often hidden because children may feel ashamed, confused, scared, or worried that they will get into trouble. Adults sometimes dismiss it as “kids experimenting,” but when there is coercion, fear, or power imbalance, it is abuse. Both children need support; the harmed child needs safety and trauma care, and the other child may need assessment and intervention.

Person whose gender identity and gender expression aligns with their sex assigned at birth.

This means no more work to be done on the case, no outstanding suspects or leads that need tracking
down.

is forcing, or attempting to force, another person to engage
in behaviours against her will by using threats, verbal insistence,
manipulation, deception, cultural expectations or economic power

tactics used by perpetrators to exert power and control over another person. This may include a person
intimidating, tricking, forcing or manipulating someone into engaging in sexual activity without the use of physical force.
Perpetrators may also use threats of violence, blackmail, drugs, and/or alcohol to coerce someone into sexual activity.
Compelled rape: as set out in the Sexual Offences Amendment Act (SOAA) this is when a person (A) who unlawfully and
intentionally compels a third person (C) without the consent of C, to commit an act of sexual penetration with another
person (B), without the consent of B.

“Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.”

“This controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behavior... Coercive control creates invisible chains and a sense of fear that pervades all elements of a victim’s life. It works to limit their human rights by depriving them of their liberty and reducing their ability for action.”