This study concentrates on the development, implementation and evaluation of a research based training program for intermediaries in South African courts in order to improve the intermediary’s knowledge and understanding of the role and duties of an intermediary. The motivation for this study had its origin in the fact that the adversarial nature of court proceedings is a major stumbling block for the child witness. The research problem, namely that there is no national research based training program for intermediaries in South Africa, was discussed. Intervention research was used as research methodology and a two phase research approach was undertaken. A quantitative survey research design was used during the phases. The research question formulated for the first phase was: What are the duties and role of an intermediary? 54 magistrates and 34 prosecutors who attended four workshops, completed a self-structured questionnaire. This data complemented the literature study and both were used to compile a training program for intermediaries. The quantitative approach was also used for phase two of the study. A quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was used. An assessment by means of a questionnaire was done before the training program started and was repeated again after the presentation of the training program to determine the effectiveness of the program The research hypotheses that was formulated was: If an intermediary is trained according to a research-based training program, the intermediary’s knowledge of her role in assisting the child before and during the trial in a South African court will be improved. A five-day training program was implemented. The hypothesis was confirmed after the data had been analyzed and compared to the literature. In chapter two the legal system of South Africa, in respect to the child, was discussed and in chapters three, four and five all aspects of child development were discussed with specific emphasis on the child witness that needs to testify in a separate courtroom. Cognitive development and language development in the context of the child witness were discussed. This information was used to develop a training program. In chapter six the development of a training program was discussed with specific attention being given to outcomes based education. In chapter seven all the data that was collected was quantified, analyzed and interpreted. The conclusion could be drawn that the respondents did show improvement of their skills and knowledge of an intermediary, his/her duties and theoretical knowledge. They also showed that their practical skills had improved by attending the training program. The conclusion could therefore be made that the intermediary training program was successfully implemented and complied with the requirements of an outcomes based training program. The findings obtained indicate that trainers of intermediaries throughout South Africa can successfully apply the developed training program. Conclusions and recommendations (chapter 8) of this study are put forward in accordance with the process that was followed in developing and implementing the training program for intermediaries who are to assist children when testifying in a court. / Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Social Work / unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans / This study is about the provision of a prototype court preparation programme for the primary school child that had been sexually assaulted. The programme is developed from a Gestalt approach. Literature regarding several existing court preparation programmes was studied and compared in order to identify certain themes for the child's preparation. Knowledge regarding the court, procedures and the functions of the various role players was conveyed to the child with emphasis on the child's role as witness. The research strategy utilised in the study was that of the intervention research and specifically the D&D-model that comprises six phases. The study incorporates the first three phases plus the first step of the fourth phase. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were utilised to establish which themes could be addressed to support the child towards being a credible witness. These themes are summarised in the court preparation programme and are addressed from the Gestalt approach. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Spelterapie)

In this study focus is placed on the Impact of the Namibian judiciary system on the sexually-abused child witness and recommendations were made to criminal justice professionals. A literature study was undertaken to establish a grounded theoretical perspective. A single case study was done to evaluate how the Gestalt Play Therapy Process can be applied to mitigate some of the negative effects the judicial system has on the child witness. An empirical study was done and a qualitative approach was utilised. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with children, their parents and criminal justice professionals. Major findings of this study are that the Namibian criminal justice system leads to further traumatization of the sexually-abused child witness and that the Gestalt Play Therapy approach can be applied to make the court proceedings less traumatic and even therapeutic for the child witness. Recommendations were formulated for criminal justice professionals / In hierdie verhandeling is gefokus op die impak van die Namibiese regstelsel op die seksueel-misbruikte kindergetuie en daar word aanbevelings gedoen aan professionele persone in die kriminele regstelsel. 'n Literatuurstudie is gedoen om 'n grondige toeretiese perspektief daar te stel. 'n Enkele gevallestudie is uitgevoer om te evalueer hoe die Gestalt Spelterapieproses toegepas kan word om die hofverrigtinge vir die kind minder traumaties te maak. 'n Empiriese studie is gedoen en 'n kwalitatiewe benadering is gebruik. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met kinders, hulle ouers en professionele persone wat met seksueel-misbruikte kindergetuies werk. In die studie is bevind dat die Namibiese regstelsel addisionele trauma veroorsaak vir die kindergetuie en dat die Getaltspelterapiebenadering gebruik kan word om die hofervaring minder traumaties en selfs terapeuties te kan maak vir die kindergetuie. Aanbevelings is gedoen aan professionele persone wat met kindergetuies werk. / Social work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

Text in Afrikaans / This study is about the provision of a prototype court preparation programme for the primary school child that had been sexually assaulted. The programme is developed from a Gestalt approach. Literature regarding several existing court preparation programmes was studied and compared in order to identify certain themes for the child's preparation. Knowledge regarding the court, procedures and the functions of the various role players was conveyed to the child with emphasis on the child's role as witness. The research strategy utilised in the study was that of the intervention research and specifically the D&D-model that comprises six phases. The study incorporates the first three phases plus the first step of the fourth phase. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were utilised to establish which themes could be addressed to support the child towards being a credible witness. These themes are summarised in the court preparation programme and are addressed from the Gestalt approach. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Spelterapie)

In this study focus is placed on the Impact of the Namibian judiciary system on the sexually-abused child witness and recommendations were made to criminal justice professionals. A literature study was undertaken to establish a grounded theoretical perspective. A single case study was done to evaluate how the Gestalt Play Therapy Process can be applied to mitigate some of the negative effects the judicial system has on the child witness. An empirical study was done and a qualitative approach was utilised. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with children, their parents and criminal justice professionals. Major findings of this study are that the Namibian criminal justice system leads to further traumatization of the sexually-abused child witness and that the Gestalt Play Therapy approach can be applied to make the court proceedings less traumatic and even therapeutic for the child witness. Recommendations were formulated for criminal justice professionals / In hierdie verhandeling is gefokus op die impak van die Namibiese regstelsel op die seksueel-misbruikte kindergetuie en daar word aanbevelings gedoen aan professionele persone in die kriminele regstelsel. 'n Literatuurstudie is gedoen om 'n grondige toeretiese perspektief daar te stel. 'n Enkele gevallestudie is uitgevoer om te evalueer hoe die Gestalt Spelterapieproses toegepas kan word om die hofverrigtinge vir die kind minder traumaties te maak. 'n Empiriese studie is gedoen en 'n kwalitatiewe benadering is gebruik. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met kinders, hulle ouers en professionele persone wat met seksueel-misbruikte kindergetuies werk. In die studie is bevind dat die Namibiese regstelsel addisionele trauma veroorsaak vir die kindergetuie en dat die Getaltspelterapiebenadering gebruik kan word om die hofervaring minder traumaties en selfs terapeuties te kan maak vir die kindergetuie. Aanbevelings is gedoen aan professionele persone wat met kindergetuies werk. / Social work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

This dissertation investigates the literary and cinematic use of the child’s perspective to present the Mexican Revolution and the Spanish Civil War and their aftermath in several Mexican, Spanish, and international (Mexican-Spanish collaborative) narratives of the 20th and early 21st Centuries written by adult authors and filmmakers, and targeted for adult audiences. The Mexican narratives are Cartucho and Las manos de mamá by Nellie Campobello, Balún Canán by Rosario Castellanos, and Bandidos, a film by Luis Estrada; selected Spanish works are El espíritu de la colmena by Víctor Erice, Cría cuervos by Carlos Saura, and El sur by Adelaida García Morales; and both international works are films by Guillermo del Toro, El espinazo del diablo and El laberinto del fauno. I attempt to determine the textual or cinematic function of the child as first person (homodiegetic) narrative viewer in these works, and I study the different ways in which this child’s point of view is constructed in order to depict the overwhelming tragedy of war. I note patterns and diversities in subject matter presented by the narrative voice, and observe the characteristics of the child narrative viewer’s world and priorities (as presented by the authors and filmmakers), paying careful attention to how each perceives and understands his or her country’s violent upheaval and its aftermath. The theoretical framework of this investigation draws mainly from trauma theory, Gothic studies, and the tradition of the fairy tale. I illustrate how within the war narrative in addition to the author’s/filmmaker’s desire to recreate the sentiment that a child would evoke in adult readers and viewers, the child narrative viewer is employed for three main reasons: to play upon or against preexisting notions of the child’s innocence; to represent (possibly subversively) the nation; and as therapeutic means of returning to a paradise lost or creating a paradise never experienced. / text

The South African Justice System is a broader system that brings law and order to society. This law and order also includes the constitutional rights of the sexually abused children. A special court dealing with cases of children who are sexually abused is functioning throughout the country. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework for social workers working with children in these special courts. The problem identified is that in these courts no framework exists for social workers focusing on the guidance of the child through the processes of the Justice System. This includes the therapeutic guidance by means of brief or directive therapy. The research methodology for this study focused on developmental research by using the Intervention research model of Rothman and Thomas (1994). The phases implemented in the study were Problem analysis and project planning, information gathering and synthesis and design. Qualitative data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews and integrated in phase two of the research report. A proto-type guideline was developed and needs to be evaluated in future research. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)

The South African Justice System is a broader system that brings law and order to society. This law and order also includes the constitutional rights of the sexually abused children. A special court dealing with cases of children who are sexually abused is functioning throughout the country. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework for social workers working with children in these special courts. The problem identified is that in these courts no framework exists for social workers focusing on the guidance of the child through the processes of the Justice System. This includes the therapeutic guidance by means of brief or directive therapy. The research methodology for this study focused on developmental research by using the Intervention research model of Rothman and Thomas (1994). The phases implemented in the study were Problem analysis and project planning, information gathering and synthesis and design. Qualitative data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews and integrated in phase two of the research report. A proto-type guideline was developed and needs to be evaluated in future research. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)