Although this session was set aside to discuss both abuses of women and children, the discussion seemed to centre more around women than children. It also needs to be noted that most participants saw the issues as being related. The first exercise the group undertook was to light a candle in remembrance for all the women and children that had died from abuse, and those presently suffering. The group was comprised of people only from the Christian tradition, which was somewhat limiting in terms of speaking from various religious traditions.
Pornography encourages abuse when female sexuality is used to stimulate male sexual arousal.
This problem was especially highlighted in cases of rape. This also includes the issue of rape within marriage, which is often seen by the Church as an impossibility as the wife's body belongs to the husband. It was also noted that SA has the highest rape statistics in the world, and that it is high time that the Church takes action on this issue. Research conducted by 'streetwise' showed that girls stay at home longer in abusive situations because of gender stereotyping. The group agreed that these problems are not confined to the Eastern Cape, but are country wide.