South Africa: State protection for victims of violent crime, particularly ethnic Asian women
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ZAF32227.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, South Africa: State protection for victims of violent crime, particularly ethnic Asian women, 1 July 1999, ZAF32227.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acec68.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No specific information on state protection for victims of violent crime, particularly ethnic Asian women, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. According to a survey conducted by the Institute for Security Studies in accordance with a United Nations format "Those most at risk of being victims of crime are African people, followed by Indians" (Cape Times 18 Sept. 1998). For general information regarding state protection for persons involved in reporting violent crime in South Africa, please consult ZAF32226 of 13 July 1999.
Although not specifically addressed to ethnic Asian women, the August 1997 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report "South Africa: Violence Against Women and the Medico-Legal System" identifies problems with the treatment of women victims of violent crime in South Africa by the police, medical establishment and the courts. The report concludes:
The improvement of the response of South Africa's medico-legal services in cases of violence against women must consider the experience of women from the time they first report an assault to the time they appear in court. It depends not only on improving the district surgeon system, but also on improving the manner in which police and courts use that system and ensuring better cooperation between the different branches of the criminal justice system. Attention must be paid to the better training of police, prosecutors and magistrates with respect to issues of gender violence in general, and to the understanding and use of medical evidence in particular (ibid., 43).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Cape Times [Cape Town]. 18 September 1998. Gill Gifford. "Most Likely Crime Victim is Poor and Black."
Human Rights Watch (HRW). August 1997. South Africa: Violence Against Women and the Medico-Legal System. New York, Human Rights Watch.
Additional Sources Consulted
Online searches of South African newspapers, including the Mail & Guardian, Johannesburg Star, Natal Witness, Cape Times and the Cape Argus.
WIN News. 1997-1999.
Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS, WNC.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources.
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