About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

47 Cornell Int'l L.J. 233 (2014)
Child Sex Abuse within the Family in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Change in Current Legal and Mental Health Responses

handle is hein.journals/cintl47 and id is 245 raw text is: Child Sex Abuse Within the Family in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges and Change in Current Legal and Mental Health Responses Cynthia Grant Bowmant & Elizabeth Brundigetl Child sex abtise within the family is extremely prevalent yet vastly underreported in sub-Saharan Africa. Until recently, state responses were deeply inadequate, characterized by outdated laws and legal procedures and scarce mental health services. In the past decade, however, many Afri- can countries have undertaken significant efforts, often informed by inter- national law, to change their legal and mental health systems in order to respond more effectively to incest and other forms of child sex abuse. After discussing the risk factors for incest and the ways in which state responses have fallen short, this Article describes and evaluates a variety of legal and mental health reforms that African countries have adopted in recent years. While recognizing the importance of these reforms, the Article argues that these efforts must be strengthened and broadened. Efforts to bring offend- ers to justice and provide treatment for child victims must form part of a multidimensional approach that involves state and non-state actors, differ- ent professions, and the community at large, as well as include a focus on prevention. The Article concludes by setting forth some guidelines to inform the development of preventive measures and a more comprehensive and effective response to intra-familial child sex abuse. Introduction ..................................................... 234 I. Prevalance/Incidence of Incest ............................ 237 A. The Lack of Solid Data ................................ 237 B. Under-reporting ....................................... 244 II. Risk Factors for Child Sex Abuse Within the Family ...... 247 A. Socio-Economic Risk Factors .......................... 247 B. Sex Inequality ........................................ 248 C. Myths about Male Sexuality ........................... 250 D. Status and Socialization of African Children ........... 250 f Dorothea S. Clarke Professor of Law, Cornell University. This Article grew out of a presentation by Professor Bowman to the Annual Meeting of the International Association of Law and Mental Health, in Padua, Italy, on June 25, 2007. Professor Bowman is grateful to Joanna Foster and Muna Ndulo for their comments on an early draft of this Article. ft Executive Director of the Avon Global Center for Women & Justice and Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor of Law, Cornell University. 47 CORNELL INT'L .J. 233 (2014)

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most