Speak Out - Youth Report Sexual Abuse

The Speak Out! handbook, published by the Department of Basic Education in South Africa, is designed to contribute towards creating a safe, caring, and enabling environment for learning and teaching in public schools. The purpose of the handbook is to equip learners with knowledge and understanding of sexual harassment and sexual violence, its implications, ways to protect themselves from perpetrators, and where to report it in the unfortunate event that it happens.
More specifically, the booklet seeks to give learners an understanding of sexual harassment in terms of the laws applicable to it, the link to human rights issues, as well as the link between sexual harassment and some aspects of South African culture. It also gives learners an understanding of what sexual harassment entails and how it impacts on their self esteem, and looks at how they can engage society to help put a stop to this form of violence and harassment.
In summary, the objectives of the handbook are to:

• Create awareness and understanding of sexual violence and harassment amongst learners in schools;
• Contribute to safe, caring, and enabling environments for learning and teaching, both inside and outside of the classroom, by providing information to learners; and
• Assist learners who are victims of sexual violence and harassment with reporting procedures in order to seek intervention and support.

Click here to download this document from the Department of Basic Education website.