Parliamentary & National Debate Needed On Escalating Child Violence

MEDIA STATEMENT ISSUED BY:
MR KOOS VAN DER MERWE MP
CHIEF WHIP AND IFP SPOKESPERSON ON JUSTICE
 

October 23, 2006

"The Inkatha Freedom Party calls for a debate in Parliament on shocking reports of school violence and child on child violence in general," said the IFP's Chief Whip, Mr Koos van der Merwe MP.

Childline studies revealed that 90% of all male child sex offenders between ages of 13 and 18 had been exposed to pornography and believed that this had an impact on their abusive behaviour.

"Child on child violence is spiralling out of control and it is now time for Government and a broad-spectrum of civil society such as NGOs, church groups and business leaders to come together to address this crisis.

"The best interests of our children are paramount and in addition to a Parliamentary debate, the IFP calls for a national debate to find working solutions for this escalating crisis. In addressing the issue of pornography we will be faced by constitutional issues relating to censorship and free speech, but we need consensus as to the appropriate way forward in protecting our children from the evils and consequence of their exposure to pornography and the glorification of violence," concluded Mr van der Merwe MP.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr Koos van der Merwe MP: 082 444 4944
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470