Research glossary

The instrumental use of violence by people who identify themselves as members of a group – whether this group is transitory or has a more permanent identity – against another group or set of individuals, in order to achieve political, economic or social objectives.” [1]

“Various forms of collective violence have been recognized, including: wars, terrorism and other violent political conflicts that occur within or between states; state-perpetrated violence such as genocide, repression, disappearances, torture and other abuses of human rights; (and) organized violent crime such as banditry and gang warfare.

Collective trauma refers to a traumatic event that is shared by a group of people. It may involve a small group, like a family, or it may involve an entire society.

People don’t necessarily need to have experienced the event first-hand in order to be changed by it.

Traumatic experiences may cause a massive shift in the way people in a culture behave, feel, work together, and raise their children.”

Sexual exploitation includes sexual coercion and manipulation by a person in a position of power who uses that
power to engage in sexual acts with a person who does not have power.
Examples include:
• A humanitarian worker requiring sex in exchange for material assistance, favors, or privileges;
• A teacher requiring sex in exchange for passing grade or admission to class;
• A refugee leader requiring sex in exchange for favors or privileges; or
• A soldier or security worker requiring sex in exchange for safe passage (Reproductive Health Consortium
Response in Crises, 2003).

Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime. Community policing comprises three key components: community partnerships, organizational transformation, and problem-solving.

A state of exhaustion and dysfunction biologically, psychologically, and socially as a result of prolonged exposure to compassion stress and all it invokes.. It is sometimes referred to as secondary traumatic stress.

Compelled rape is when someone forces another person to perform a sexual act on someone else. The person being forced is also a victim, because the act happens under threat, violence, or coercion.

Example: A perpetrator threatens someone with a weapon and forces them to rape another person, or forces people to perform sexual acts on each other.

as set out in the Sexual Offences Amendment Act (SOAA) this is an alleged victim of a sexual offence.
When child victims are involved, the guardian or person who reports the rape is the complainant and the child is the
victim.

Most people with trauma-related problems have experienced multiple traumas. The term, complex trauma describes exposure to multiple traumas. It also refers to the impacts of that exposure. Complex trauma is usually interpersonal; involves ‘being or feeling’ trapped; is often planned, extreme, ongoing and/or repeated; often has more severe, persistent and cumulative impacts; involves challenges with shame, trust, self-esteem, identity and regulating emotions; has different coping strategies which include alcohol and drug use, self-harm, over- or under-eating, over-work etc.; affects emotional and physical health, wellbeing, relationships and daily functioning. Complex trauma commonly occurs with repeated trauma against a child; however, complex trauma is not always the result of childhood trauma. It can also occur as a result of adults’ experience of violence in the community e.g. domestic and family violence, civil unrest, war trauma or genocide, refugee and asylum seeker trauma, sexual exploitation and trafficking, extreme medical trauma and/or re-traumatization

is when a person makes an informed choice to agree freely
and voluntarily to do something. The phrase against her will is used to
indicate an absence of informed consent. There is no consent when
agreement is obtained through the use of threats, force or other forms
of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, or misrepresentation.
The use of a threat to withhold a benefit, or a promise to provide a
benefit, in order to obtain the agreement of a person is also an abuse
of power; any agreement obtained this way is not considered to be
consensual

Defined in the Criminal Code as the voluntary agreement to engage in the sexual activity in question at the time the activity takes place. This means that all parties must actively, willingly, and continuously give consent to the sexual activity. Consent cannot be assumed or implied, and an unconscious person is not capable of giving consent.

When it comes to sexual assault, consent is defined as the voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. In other words, you must actively and willingly give consent to sexual activity. Any type of sexual activity without consent is sexual assault.

An exercise of choice and a voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity with another party. Consent is an ongoing process and can be withdrawn at any time. Consent to engage in sexual activity is compulsory in every sexual act, always matters, and should not be assumed, regardless of the relationship status and irrespective of previous sexual activity with the other party.

The implementation of new laws and policies is most effective when paired with the development of a community-wide strategy that ensures all members of the community respond in a consistent way to violence against women and can be held accountable for their responses. Coordinated community response (CCR) programs engage the entire community in efforts to develop a common understanding of violence against women and to change social norms and attitudes that contribute to violence against women. Law enforcement, civil society, health care providers, child protection services, educators, local businesses, the media, employers, and faith leaders should be involved in a coordinated community response.

The process of managing external and/or internal demands that tax or exceed the resources of the person. It
is a complex and multidimensional process that is sensitive to both the environment and the personality of the
individuall (Compas et. al., 1988).

Coping mechanisms can also be described as ‘survival skills’. They are strategies that people use in order to deal with stresses, pain, and natural changes that we experience in life. Coping mechanisms are learned behavioural patterns used to cope. We learn from our lived experiences how to manage our stresses. There are negative coping mechanisms and positive coping mechanisms. Many people use their coping mechanisms to benefit them in a positive way. However, we are not always able to cope with the difficulties that we face.

Corrective rape is a hate-motivated sexual attack intended to “punish” or attempt to change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It is often targeted at lesbian, bisexual, and gender-nonconforming people. This violence is rooted in homophobia, misogyny, and the belief that someone’s identity needs to be controlled. Corrective rape is a serious human rights violation and a form of GBV.

An art and science where two or more people are engaged in a helping relationship in which one of them
(counselor) is a trained, educated, qualified, and most often licensed and certificated as the helper and the
other(s) are client(s) seeking help. The purpose of the relationship is that of the counselor helping one or more
clients to solve issues, concerns or problems which arise from attempts to cope with life in an increasingly
complex world (Maples, 1996)

Counselling is a supportive service in which a trained counsellor helps someone process trauma, stress, grief, or other difficult experiences. It can help survivors feel heard, regain coping skills, manage anxiety, and reduce feelings of shame or isolation.

Counselling should be survivor-centred, confidential, and non-judgemental. Some survivors prefer one-on-one counselling, while others benefit from group support or trauma-focused therapy.

the order of cases to be dealt with by the court in a specifi c day

the place, including where applicable, the vehicle or vessel at or in which an alleged rape or sexual
offence took place