An analysis of the alignment of Stellenbosch University’s policy on rape with recent research recommendations

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dc.contributor.advisorEigelaar-Meets, Ilseen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorVan Straten, Christinaen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-03-05T07:08:37Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-26T19:02:09Z
dc.date.available2024-03-05T07:08:37Z
dc.date.available2024-04-26T19:02:09Z
dc.date.issued2024-03
dc.descriptionThesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African universities remain plagued by a scourge of rape. The Council on Higher Education argues that this prevalence is due to the fact that these universities remain patriarchal institutions, and function in a society rife with various manifestations of gender-based violence. This research project aimed to identify the extent to which current policy at Stellenbosch University (SU) aimed at curbing sexual violence amongst its students, aligns with recent research on rape that was concluded at this and other institutions. This qualitative study assessed the alignment of Stellenbosch University’s (SU’s) Unfair Discrimination and Harassment Policy (UDHP) to the findings and recommendations made by researchers and institutions globally. It further utilised key informant interviews of staff from various SU departments in order to analyse the implementation of the UDHP. Data collection and interpretation of findings is supported by, a comprehensive literature review conducted to identify the core features of a comprehensive and informed rape policy. This review found that for a rape policy to be regarded comprehensive, it must be victim-centred and trauma-informed. It must also contain specific references to aspects of prevention, provision, protection, practice and prosecution, in order to be considered comprehensive. The analysis then found that SU’s UDHP meets only a few of the local and global policy recommendations. The UDHP draws adequate attention to the provision of support to victims, but it falls short in several other aspects. The UDHP does not prescribe specific and relevant stipulations regarding prevention, the protection of victims, and sensitive prosecution and practice procedures that are appropriate for rape-related matters. Many of the shortfalls identified above are rooted in the lack of a standalone policy that is designed specifically for sexual violence and not just discrimination and harassment in general. This study recommends that SU invests resources in a a complete overhaul of the existing UDHP, including a standalone policy focusing specifically on matters related to the management of sexual violence at the institution to be regarded as a comprehensive policy.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid Afrikaanse universiteite word deurlopend geteister deur ‘n plaag van verkragting. Die Department van Hoër Onderwys skryf hierdie tendens toe aan die patriargale karakter van hierdie instellings asook die feit dat hierdie instellings in ‘n samelewing gesetel is waar verskeie manifestasies van geslagsgeweld algemeen voorkom. Hierdie kwalitatiewe studie vergelyk Stellenbosch Universiteit se Onregverdige Diskriminasie en Teistering Beleid (ODTB) met bevindings en voorstelle wat voorgelê is deur beide plaaslike and internasionale navorsers en instellings. Om die implementering van die ODTB te toets, het die navorsing ook gesteun op in-diepte spesialis onderhoude met personeellede van verskillende eendhede en departmente van die Universiteit. Die studie bied ook ‘n omvattende literatuuroorsig om die kern eienskappe van ‘n omvattende en ingeligte verkragtingsbeleid neer te lê. Die oorsig toon aan dat om ‘n omvattende verkragtingsbeleid te verseker, dit noodsaaklik is dat so ‘n beleid slagoffer-gefokus en trauma-ingelig moet wees. So ‘n beleid kan net as omvattend beskou word as dit spesifiek verwys na aspekte soos voorkoming, voorsiening, beskerming, praktyk en vervolging. Die studie het bevind dat Stellenbosch Universiteit se ODTB slegs enkele van die plaaslike en internasionale beleidsvoorstelle bevat. Alhoewel die beleid voeldoende aandag skenk aan ondersteuning aan slagoffers, skiet dit tekort in baie ander opsigte. Die ODTB skryf geen spesifieke en relevante bepalings voor ten opsigte van voorkoming, beskerming van slagoffers, en sensitiewe vervolging en praktyk prosedures wat by die aard van die verkragting pas nie. Baie van die genoemde tekortkominge kan toegeskryf word aan die gebrek aan ‘n gefokusde beleid, wat konsentreer op seksuele geweld, eerder as ‘n dokument wat fokus op algemene teistering en diskrimansie. Stellenbosch Universiteit benodig ‘n totale hersiening van die huidige ODTB wat ‘n gefokusde beleid insluit wat konsentreer op die bestuur van seksuele geweld binne die instelling, en wat as ‘n omvattende beleid kan dien.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMastersen_ZA
dc.format.extentiv, 81 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130477
dc.language.isoen
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshRape in universities and collegesen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSexual abuse victims -- Education (Higher)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSex crimes -- Education (Higher)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCouncil on Higher Education (South Africa)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshRape -- Preventionen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshCollege students -- Sexual behavioren_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTD
dc.titleAn analysis of the alignment of Stellenbosch University’s policy on rape with recent research recommendationsen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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