Mother's of Africa: crimes against women - a medico-legal guide

English: The women of South Africa continue to labour under the yoke of sexual violence and misuse. 1. The constitutional development of the rights of women is examined in chapter one. 2. The crimes of rape, domestic violence and sexual abuse continue to be a pervasive factor in our society despite laws to the contrary. The current law relating to such acts are clarified in chapter two. 3. A victim of the aforementioned crimes will usually undergo a medical examination which is used as evidence at trial. This work clarifies the procedure involved in such examination as well as the current law relating to such acts of violence. 4. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Amendment Act as well as the Bill on Compulsory HIV testing is explored. 5. The statutory and common law position is examined with regard the crime of rape as well as the legislation applicable to sentencing of such offenders. 6. The use and presentation of medical evidence and the role of expert witnesse’s is examined and well as the legislation so applicable. This work contains criminological elements in that it examines rapist profiles and the propensity towards the commission of such crimes.