Dealing with rape: We need to do better

DOCTORS who examine the survivors of rape and other sexual assaults have only one chance to gather make-or-break evidence that could help to bring perpetrators of this type of crime to book.

This note of caution was struck by an experienced South African rape care management expert at a one-day training course on the investigation of sexual crimes in Windhoek on Friday. It is absolutely essential that health workers be trained to competently examine the survivors of sexual crimes, as in most cases they get one – and only one – chance to do a medical examination that could well determine the later success of the prosecution of the alleged offender, Dr Ferdi Frantz told fellow doctors, Police officers, social workers, judges, magistrates, public prosecutors and Directorate of Legal Aid defence lawyers who are involved in the investigation of sexual offences and the trials of accused suspects.Dr Frantz, who is based in the Western Cape Province, has been involved in rape care management for some 21 years.In this time, he has examined survivors and victims in some 8 000 cases, he said at the training session.A doctor examining someone who is alleged to have been raped or sexually assaulted “needs to be a medical detective” who knows not just how to notice, collect and properly document evidence from the patient’s body, but also how to provide psychological support to a traumatised patient, he said.He stressed that evidence of physical injuries is not always easily apparent after a rape had occurred, but that this does not mean that someone had not been raped: “You don’t need to have any injuries for a rape to have occurred.”With proper, continuous training, doctors who examine rape victims will however know what other possible signs pointing to a sexual assault to look for, he said.Dr Frantz presented the training at the invitation of the Office of the Prosecutor General.’IT’S SCARING’ The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, opened the course with an address in which she emphasised the seriousness of the epidemic of violence against women and children that continues to wash over Namibia.”Namibian women and children are probably the most fragile groups in our society.And it is against this background that they are exposed to violence which continues unabated in Namibia,” Iivula-Ithana said.”What is so scaring is the fact that sexual violence against women and children seems to be the order of the day, robbing Namibia of her citizens who would have meaningfully contributed to the social upliftment and welfare of the country,” she said.”Children are constantly sexually mutilated and thereafter killed for reasons beyond comprehension.No distinction is made between women of tender age and the old-aged ones, who also fall prey to barbaric and sick men and young boys only thinking of satisfying their sexual needs.”Iivula-Ithana also said: “More than often, the physical scars left by the ordeal of being raped and physically assaulted are left unacknowledged and no interpretation is made from these injuries, which are so important in order to understand and appreciate the trauma the victim went through.”More so, medical documents that are supporting evidence of this trauma are not properly completed and as a result of such mishaps, a true and adequate reflection of the injuries the victim suffered is not portrayed to the courts, who have to decide on the fate of the accused who is responsible for the violation of the victim’s privacy and rights.”THE FOCUS In Namibia’s criminal justice system the focus should shift “from an accused-centred approach to a victim-sensitive approach” Iivula-Ithana said.”Therefore we must be sensitive to the needs of our victims of violence and prepare them for the court environment which is a foreign atmosphere for them,” she added.”The court is the place where the victim is exposed to secondary trauma where he or she has to relive the experience that was life-changing.”This is our place to make sure that the victim is comfortable and has the necessary assistance and comfort to survive this ordeal of having to explain to everyone what happened during the assault.Social workers and support persons have the enormous task upon their shoulders to provide this assistance to victims who suffered this trauma.”It is absolutely essential that health workers be trained to competently examine the survivors of sexual crimes, as in most cases they get one – and only one – chance to do a medical examination that could well determine the later success of the prosecution of the alleged offender, Dr Ferdi Frantz told fellow doctors, Police officers, social workers, judges, magistrates, public prosecutors and Directorate of Legal Aid defence lawyers who are involved in the investigation of sexual offences and the trials of accused suspects.Dr Frantz, who is based in the Western Cape Province, has been involved in rape care management for some 21 years.In this time, he has examined survivors and victims in some 8 000 cases, he said at the training session.A doctor examining someone who is alleged to have been raped or sexually assaulted “needs to be a medical detective” who knows not just how to notice, collect and properly document evidence from the patient’s body, but also how to provide psychological support to a traumatised patient, he said.He stressed that evidence of physical injuries is not always easily apparent after a rape had occurred, but that this does not mean that someone had not been raped: “You don’t need to have any injuries for a rape to have occurred.”With proper, continuous training, doctors who examine rape victims will however know what other possible signs pointing to a sexual assault to look for, he said.Dr Frantz presented the training at the invitation of the Office of the Prosecutor General.’IT’S SCARING’ The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, opened the course with an address in which she emphasised the seriousness of the epidemic of violence against women and children that continues to wash over Namibia.”Namibian women and children are probably the most fragile groups in our society.And it is against this background that they are exposed to violence which continues unabated in Namibia,” Iivula-Ithana said.”What is so scaring is the fact that sexual violence against women and children seems to be the order of the day, robbing Namibia of her citizens who would have meaningfully contributed to the social upliftment and welfare of the country,” she said.”Children are constantly sexually mutilated and thereafter killed for reasons beyond comprehension.No distinction is made between women of tender age and the old-aged ones, who also fall prey to barbaric and sick men and young boys only thinking of satisfying their sexual needs.”Iivula-Ithana also said: “More than often, the physical scars left by the ordeal of being raped and physically assaulted are left unacknowledged and no interpretation is made from these injuries, which are so important in order to understand and appreciate the trauma the victim went through.”More so, medical documents that are supporting evidence of this trauma are not properly completed and as a result of such mishaps, a true and adequate reflection of the injuries the victim suffered is not portrayed to the courts, who have to decide on the fate of the accused who is responsible for the violation of the victim’s privacy and rights.”THE FOCUS In Namibia’s criminal justice system the focus should shift “from an accused-centred approach to a victim-sensitive approach” Iivula-Ithana said.”Therefore we must be sensitive to the needs of our victims of violence and prepare them for the court environment which is a foreign atmosphere for them,” she added.”The court is the place where the victim is exposed to secondary trauma where he or she has to relive the experience that was life-changing.”This is our place to make sure that the victim is comfortable and has the necessary assistance and comfort to survive this ordeal of having to explain to everyone what happened during the assault.Social workers and support persons have the enormous task upon their shoulders to provide this assistance to victims who suffered this trauma.”