Quarterly Report October to December 2012 News & Highlights KIDZ CLINIC CHRISTMAS PARTIES Thanks to a number of sponsorships and generous donations, our annual Kidz Clinic Christmas parties were once again a tremendous success. Jumping castles, magicians, dancing contests and games kept the children entertained and there were eats and sweets aplenty. (It’s the one day we don’t worry too much about sugar intake!) Each child received numerous brand new gifts, party packs and take-home treats. WMACA would like to express our deepest gratitude to the sponsors who so generously supported these events; including Vodacom, Standard Bank Properties, Dell Computers, Hertz, Financial Junction, the Aquarian Foundation, Women in Action, Mazeya Business Enterprise, as well as all the other businesses and private individuals who contributed. Duduza Social Worker, Edson Taruva, trying to keep up at the Kidz Clinic Christmas Party KIDZ CLINIC “ROOTS & SHOOTS” DOG WASH DAY In November an SPCA mobile clinic treated 250 domestic animals for free in Alexandra. The clinic visit to Carter Primary School closed a 16-week programme named “Care of domestic animals in my community”, that had been presented to a group of grade 7 pet owners by WMACA’s Alex Kidz Clinic and Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots Institute SA. Empathy is an important skill related to success in many areas of human development – social, academic and personal. Learning how to respond empathetically is the best antidote to violence, bullying and other unwanted aggressive behaviour. Children who are empathetic tend to be more resilient; they are better able to handle stress and “bounce back” from difficulties. Empathy promotes “moral intelligence”, the capacity to understand right from wrong and the ability to act on that understanding. A morally intelligent person makes decisions that benefit not only her/himself but also others around them. Children often experience a natural affinity for animals, which is why a growing variety of programmes pair animals with children. See all the pics on Facebook… http://www.facebook.com/pages/Women-and-Men-Against-Child- Abuse/138077376255457?sk=photos_albums#!/media/set/?set=a. 437951092934749.103906.138077376255457&type=3 2 SISTERS WITH BLISTERS “Thousands of sisters and misters braved the rain weather and took to the streets of Bryanston on Saturday the 24th of November to speak out against the violence against women and children at Jacaranda FM’s Sisters with Blisters in association with 1st for Women. The walk, held at Bryanston High School attracted more than 6 500 people who wore heels, pumps and takkies in the true spirit of the event; to earn their blisters and help raise awareness and money for the cause and the two worthy charities who are active in the fight against abuse of women and children. The field of 6 500 people raised an incredible R460 000.00 which was donated on the day to Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA) and Sonke Gender Justice network for the exceptional care and support they provide to women and children affected by the abuse.” Watch… SABC3 Expresso http://www.ornico.co.za/editorialstream/BroadcastMedia/2 012_12_04_SABC3_Expresso_SONKE%20GENDER_06h22(1). wmv Listen to… WMACA’s Kevin Barbeau on Jacaranda http://www.ornico.co.za/editorialstream/BroadcastMedia/2 012-11-13_WACA_Jacaranda%20FM_Breakfast_08h17.mp3 WMACA’s Director, Miranda Jordan with Boksburg Kidz Clinic Social Worker, Marissa Jordaan, and companion. Since the opening of the first Kidz Clinic in 2000, WMACA have provided more than 90,748 treatment services to 14,442 children and 13,426 parents/caregivers. 3 WMACA Advocacy By Germaine Vogel-Horowitz, Advocacy Manager October to December – Media Coverage breakdown: • Total for TV – 2 x appearances • Total for Radio – 5 x interviews • Total for Print media – 13 x articles (1 x front page) • Total for internet news/portals - 20 x articles WMACA achieved extensive Luke Lamprecht, Miranda Jordan, Suellen Sheehan and Germaine Vogel, addressing the media at the WMACA press conference media coverage in this quarter of reporting mainly through WMACA’s press conference in support of the victims of Bob Hewitt and our participation in the Sisters with Blisters walk, which also resulted in a generous donation made to WMACA. The International Hall of Fame suspended Hewitt in November and the outcry from Hewitt’s supporters who blamed and attempted to shame the adult survivors prompted WMACA to host a press conference, which included an exclusive interview with Suellen Sheehan who opened a case against Hewitt more than a year ago. The press conference at the Sandton Hilton Hotel on the 26th November was a huge success, attracting national media attention as well as SAPS and NPA responses to confirm their commitment to process this case. WMACA also took this opportunity to launch its 16 days of Activism Campaign. This quarter of reporting also marks 16 October, Baby Michael’s birthday and WMACA sent out an "In memoriam" press release. Last year on the 13th July 2012 Michael’s parents each received two ten year sentences nine months after his death (of broncho-pneumonia on 16 October 2011). ‘It’s very sad to think that Baby Michael would have been nine years old if he were still alive today. Just because his parents are convicted does not mean it is over. His tragic story and that of Baby Wade should be kept alive through memory to keep the topic of abused and shaken baby syndrome in front of mind. 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM BOB HEWITT CASE – Press conference As mentioned above WMACA invited press to an exclusive interview on 26 November with Suellen Sheehan, one of Hewitt’s young tennis prodigies that he coached in the early 80’s and molested when she was a young girl. Hewitt was suspended indefinitely on the 15 November from The International Tennis Hall of Fame as a result of evidence presented by their hired attorney’s investigations, which included interviews with alleged victims, who were between the ages of 12 and 15 when coached by Hewitt decades ago. 4 "The allegations brought to us were extremely troubling, and we're confident we've taken the appropriate action," said Mark Stenning, chief executive of the organization based in Newport, Rhode Island. Plaques honouring Hewitt at the hall were removed, as was his entry on the organization's website. "Bob Hewitt ceases to exist in the Hall of Fame," Stenning said. Australian- born Hewitt won 15 Grand Slam doubles titles in the 1960s and 1970s and was inducted into the Hall in 1992. No one has ever been suspended or expelled from the Hall. He has also subsequently been removed from the South African Sport and Arts Hall of Fame. Suellen Sheehan, one of his alleged victims broke down during the WMACA press conference and struggled to control her emotions while telling how Hewitt, who coached her for years, made sexual advances towards her and allegedly molested her. Sheehan who opened a case of sexual assault against Hewitt in December 2011 said, “The only thing that matters is what was done to us. That’s it!” Acknowledging Suellen’s emotions and her courage to speak out publically to seek justice and raise awareness to parents on the dangers of career offenders, WMACA advocacy manager Germaine Vogel said at our conference “That’s why we are highlighting this not only to put pressure on our officials to move forward on this case but to highlight the devastating effects of child abuse.” WMACA is waiting for The National Directorate of Public Prosecutions to decide on whether to prosecute and will continue to communicate and pressurise officials to do so. Watch…. SABC TV – Press Conference http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/488f16004d98129bbdbbfde570eb4ca2/Bob-Hewitt-aware-of-allegations-of- sexual-abuse--20121126 The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign is a time for all to reaffirm their commitment to creating a society that is safe and secure for women and children. This year marks the 13th anniversary of the national campaign. The Boksburg Kidz Clinic was featured in the Boksburg Advertiser, as one of the major role players of service delivery to victims on the East Rand. SOWETO VIRAL VIDEO GROUP SEX CASE Proceedings in the case previously called the “Soweto Video Gang Rape” case were postponed until the 27th of March 2013. The video of seven young men seemingly gang-raping a 17-year-old mentally challenged girl, went viral earlier this year, sending shockwaves here and abroad. WMACA have been following this case from the start, as we are concerned about the welfare of the juveniles involved – the victim and the offenders – and we want to understand the circumstances in an 5 environment which produces this type of sexual behaviour among teenagers. Only when the court hears the results of a required report from the Department of Public Prosecutions will we know whether or not the victim is intellectually challenged and if so what her intellectual capacity is – which is crucial to determining her ability to give informed consent which in turn will influence the charges to be brought against the remaining suspects. Furthermore, charges relating to sexual acts with a mentally disabled person rely not only on the mental ability of the disabled person, but also the offender/s’ knowledge of the fact that the victim was disabled and could not consent. ‘Even if the other charges are dropped, some of the suspects might still face charges of engaging the sexual services of a minor for reward, using a minor to create child pornography, possessing and distributing child pornography, committing a sexual act in the presence of a minor, and committing a sexual act in the presence of an adult’.