2012年-世界发展银行全球_Country_Assessment_on_Youth_Violence_Policy_and_Programmes_in_South_Africa_38页_1mb

Summary of Country Assessment on Youth Violence, Policy and Programmes in South Africa

Core Content

This report provides an in-depth analysis of youth violence in South Africa, examining the current situation, policy and legal framework, existing programmes, and key gaps. It is part of a World Bank project aimed at integrating human rights principles into youth violence programming in Mexico and South Africa, with a focus on fostering policy dialogue and improving interventions.

Main Findings

Youth Violence in South Africa

• High rates of victimisation: Youth are at significantly higher risk of violent victimisation compared to adults, with data showing that 26% of youth aged 12–22 were victims of violent crime in the 12 months prior to a 2005 survey. This is five times the adult rate.
• Interpersonal violence: Most violence occurs between individuals, including family and intimate partner violence, bullying, and random acts of violence in schools, public spaces, and workplaces.
• Perpetrators of violence: Youth are also major perpetrators of violence, with many incidents occurring in schools. Teachers and students are both involved in perpetrating violence, with corporal punishment still being a common practice.
• Incarceration rates: Over 34% of the prison population is aged 18–25, with half of them incarcerated for violent crimes. Young people aged 22–25 make up the majority of this group.

Emerging Issues

• Cyber-bullying: The role of digital technologies in violence is increasingly discussed in the media but remains under-researched.
• Suicide and self-harm: These are significant but often overlooked issues among youth, particularly in the context of school and family environments.

Key Policy and Legal Framework

National Youth Policy (NYP)

• Defines youth as individuals aged 14–35, reflecting a broad age range that includes children, adolescents, and young adults.
• Emphasises a life-cycle approach to youth development and a differentiated strategy based on age, race, gender, and other social factors.

Criminal Justice System

• Children's Act 2005: Ensures that children under 18 are not processed through the adult criminal justice system unless as a last resort.
• Child Justice Act 2008: Focuses on children under 18, including those who committed crimes as minors.
• Correctional Services Act 1998: Recognises young offenders aged 14–25 and promotes rehabilitation, though most diversion and sentencing programmes still target children.

National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS)

• A progressive framework for addressing the socio-economic drivers of crime and violence, but it has not been effectively implemented.

Government Interventions

Youth Development Programmes

• National Youth Development Agency (NYDA): Focuses on youth employability and is expanding its role in promoting social cohesion.
• Department of Social Development (DSD): Developing a Social Crime Prevention Strategy to coordinate crime and violence interventions across sectors.

Crime Prevention Programmes

• Community Police Forums (CPF): Aim to improve community safety and reduce youth violence through local engagement.
• National Youth Service Programme (NYSP): A government initiative to engage youth in community service and development.

Diversion and Offender-Oriented Programmes

• Department of Correctional Services (DCS): Manages youth incarceration and rehabilitation.
• National Institute for Crime Prevention and Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO): Offers reintegration and support services for offenders.
• Khulisa Services: Provides support and rehabilitation for youth in conflict with the law.

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

• Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP): Conducts nationally representative surveys on youth victimisation and lifestyle.
• Institute for Security Studies (ISS): Publishes crime and victimisation surveys, though these focus on adults.
• Medical Research Council (MRC): Conducts research on risk behaviours among youth, including sexual violence.
• Children's Institute and Centre for Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR): Engages in research and advocacy on youth violence and related issues.

Gaps in Policy and Programming

• Lack of specific youth legislation: There is no legislation addressing adult youth (those over 18) in conflict with the law, leaving them without the same rehabilitative mechanisms as children.
• Limited focus on older youth: Most programmes target children or adolescents, with few addressing the needs of young adults in their late teens and early twenties.
• Insufficient crime prevention emphasis: While the NCPS exists, it is not fully implemented, resulting in missed opportunities for proactive, integrated responses.
• Fragmented programming: There is a lack of integration between governmental and civil society programmes, and few initiatives address family dynamics or link home and school environments.
• Funding and collaboration challenges: NGOs often lack sufficient funding, and there is limited coordination between government and civil society in addressing youth violence.

Entry Points for Dialogue and Action

• Department of Social Development (DSD): A key entry point for integrated crime prevention strategies.
• National Youth Development Agency (NYDA): Plays a central role in youth development and can facilitate policy engagement.
• National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS): Provides a framework for multi-sectoral crime prevention, though implementation remains a challenge.

Conclusion

The report underscores the need for a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to addressing youth violence in South Africa. It calls for a life-cycle perspective, improved support for caregivers, and more targeted, integrated programming that addresses both the causes and consequences of violence among youth. Strengthening collaboration between government and civil society, and ensuring the implementation of existing strategies, is crucial to making progress in this area.