REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA The NPA’s Sexual Offences and Community Affairs (SOCA) Unit developed comprehensive training manuals which are updated annually to be in line with the latest developments in law for specialist prosecutors and also an integrated training manual for stakeholders at our TCCs. 74 116. In December 2014 Government finalized a National Strategy for Intersectoral Management of Sexual Offences74 which encourages the inter-sectoral approach to all matters relating to sexual offences courts. It sets out clear duties and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the establishment and management of these courts. The National Strategic Plan also provides for the minimum uniform personnel required at each sexual offence court to include: (i) 1 presiding officer; (ii) 2 prosecutors; (iii) 1 intermediary; (iv) 1 designated clerk; (v) 1 designated social worker; (vi) 1 legal aid practitioner; and (vii) 1 court preparation / victim support officer. All victims should have access to services such as court preparation programme; information material in form of text, visuals and Braille; allocation of food for children, vicarious trauma programmes for personnel working with victims of sexual violence as well as a case-flow management system and screening policy to direct sexual offences cases to sexual offences courts where they are established. 117. Intermediaries deployed to all Sexual Offences Courts and other regional courts dealing with sexual offences cases. There is a pool of ad hoc intermediaries to close the gap whenever the need arises. Social workers employed by Government continue to augment these services. These dedicated services use intermediaries, audio-visual equipment and specialised training, among others. Government has a very clear and well-coordinated strategy and we are beginning to see the results thereof – the drop in the number of cases of reported sexual offences being a case in point. 118. Based on the MATTSO report recommendation that all court personnel must undergo Trauma Debriefing Programme to minimize and eliminate the vicarious trauma that they often suffer from dealing with cases of sexual offences on a daily basis. Government developed the Debriefing Programme for the intermediaries and all front line staff servicing victims of sexual assault. 119. Through sexual offences courts, we are able to provide specialised victim-support services, improve the effectiveness of witnesses in court, reduce the turnaround time in the finalisation of sexual offences matters, and improve conviction rates. The courts aim to minimise secondary trauma for victims. 120. The Court Preparation Programme is a realistic and practical programme aimed at preparing witnesses to effectively testify in court. In order to attain this aim, Court Preparation Officers have to be equipped to identify and address the individual needs of witnesses. Witnesses are informed of the court environment, legal processes and legal terms. The fears and concerns of witnesses about testifying are addressed and the programme aims to reduce secondary victimisation. The witness is provided with skills JCPS Working Group (Devcom) input: January 2015 38