Young People, Violence and Strategic Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa

Description

This edited volume offers a rich collection of up-to-date research and critical scholarship from various African institutions on incidents of youth violence, intervention and prevention in sub-Saharan Africa. It integrates thinking, evidence, responses, and debates relating to this topic, laying the basis for fresh insights and innovative strategies. The chapters capture a spectrum of pertinent issues such as economic hardship, lockdowns, sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy, online sexual harassment, xenophobic violence, and micro-aggressions in school contexts, and present guidelines on how countries might learn from successful interventions recently implemented. They explore young people’s access to familial and community resources, state-sponsored initiatives, peer counselling, youth-friendly services, and other relevant structures. Thus, among other things, this volume stimulates further debate on what is driving violence in different African contexts―specifically, how intersectional identities create vulnerabilities to violence―and influences ways of dealing with the issue. This interdisciplinary and cross-cutting volume serves as a vital resource for experts at universities, in international organisations, civil society groups and intergovernmental organisations who wish to both analyse and take action to address and prevent the type of violence that currently afflicts young people sub-Saharan Africa today.     Foreword Cause for Celebration: And Call to Action Contents Chapter 1: Setting the Scene 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Focusing on Violence 1.3 Research on Violence Affecting Young People: Knowledge and Gaps 1.4 Violence Prevention Interventions Among Young People: What Works? 1.5 Embracing Clinical Sociology: Chapter Summaries 1.6 Digital Interventions to Address Violence in Africa 1.7 Conclusion References Chapter 2: Protecting Young People in Sub-Saharan Africa Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence via Sexual and Reproductive ... 2.1 Introduction and Background 2.2 Legal and Policy Landscape of SRHR and VAC in Selected African Countries 2.3 Key Drivers of Violence Against Children and Young People in Africa 2.4 Effective Linking to SRHR as an Approach to Prevent and Effectively Respond to Violence and SGBV 2.5 SRHR Services and Support for Young People During the COVID-19 Pandemic 2.6 Barriers and Supportive Factors for Linking Young People to SRHR Services and Support: Findings of Qualitative Study 2.6.1 Key Barriers to Accessing SRHR Services and Support 2.6.2 Supportive Factors in Relation to Linking Young People to SRHR Services and Support 2.6.2.1 Creating Supportive Environments: Youth-Friendly Services and Safe Spaces 2.6.2.2 Being Supportive of Young People´s Evolving Capacities: Providing Comprehensive Information and Meaningful Youth Parti... 2.6.2.3 Building Supportive SRHR Communities: Collaboration Between Organizations and Adopting Community Approaches 2.6.2.4 Creating Supportive SRHR Legal Environments 2.6.2.5 Impact of COVID-19 on Civil Society Organizations 2.7 Conclusion References Chapter 3: A Study of Internet-Facilitated Violence Against Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Sub-Saharan Africa 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Cyberviolence as a Form of Gender-Based Violence 3.3 Defining Forms of Cyberviolence Against Women and Girls in SSA 3.4 The Scope of the Cyber VAWG Problem During the COVID-19 Pandemic 3.5 Methodology 3.6 Analysis of Reports from International Organizations 3.7 Identified Themes 3.7.1 Lack of Data 3.7.2 Increased Assault During COVID-19 3.7.3 Shame and Fear 3.7.4 Hidden Identity 3.7.5 Victim Blaming 3.7.6 Poverty and Ignorance 3.7.7 Emotional Scarring 3.7.8 Unresponsive Law Enforcement 3.7.9 Example of the Effort of South African Government 3.8 Suggestions to Prevent and Counter Online Violence 3.9 Conclusion References Chapter 4: Young Masculinities and Violence in South Africa: Reflections on the Literature 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Methodology 4.3 Overview of the Literature 4.4 Multi-level Analyses of Gender and Violence 4.5 Reflections on the Literature 4.6 Troubling Marginality and Hegemony in Research on Boys 4.7 Emerging Pathways of Research 4.8 Conclusion References Chapter 5: Impact of Xenophobic Violence Against Immigrant Youth Informal Traders: Evidence from Durban, South Africa 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Literature Review 5.2.1 Cause of Xenophobic Attacks 5.2.2 Impact of Xenophobic Violence 5.3 Theoretical Discussion 5.4 Methodology 5.5 Data Analysis 5.5.1 Participants and the Nature of Their Informal Trading Activities 5.5.2 Significance of Informal Trading Activities and Choice of Trading Site 5.5.3 Triggers of Xenophobic Violence 5.5.4 Economic Losses: Livelihood Impact of the 2020/2021 Xenophobic Violence in the Durban CBD 5.5.4.1 Disruption of Business and Loss of Income 5.5.4.2 Loss of Goods and Equipment 5.5.4.3 Difficulty to Meet Basic Needs 5.5.5 Physical and Mental Impacts 5.5.5.1 The Physical and Mental Impact 5.6 Coping Mechanisms 5.6.1 Savings and Casual Income-Making Strategies 5.6.2 Donations from Individuals and Organizations 5.6.3 Suffering and Patience 5.6.4 Religiosity and Spirituality 5.7 Recommended Interventions 5.7.1 Protection and Security 5.7.2 Opportunities 5.8 Discussion 5.9 Conclusion References Chapter 6: Heteronormativity in Health Settings: Realities of LGBT Youth´s Access to Healthcare in South Africa 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Understanding Structural Violence Confronting LGBT in Healthcare 6.3 Researching Experiences of LGBT Youth: Methods 6.4 Barriers in Healthcare for LGBT Youth 6.4.1 Disenfranchising Health System 6.4.2 Instilled Principles of Heteronormativity 6.4.3 Persistent Cisgenderism in Health Settings 6.4.4 Inherent Paternalism 6.5 Conclusion and Recommendations References Chapter 7: ``Secure the Bag´´: Young Women´s Agencies Toward Better Versus Bare Realities During COVID 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Approach to Study 7.3 Data Collection Process 7.4 Data Analysis and Interpretation 7.5 Intimate Relationships Are a Gateway to Better Socio-economic Experiences 7.6 Townships Spaces as Influences on Young Women´s Economic Agencies 7.7 Transactional Sexual Relations as Shaped by Township Intersectionality 7.8 Securing the Bag Within Vulnerabilities 7.9 Conclusion References Chapter 8: Youth Challenges in Namibia During COVID-19: Engaging Joblessness, Violence, and E-Learning 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Situational Analysis of Namibian Youth 8.2.1 Poverty and Youth Unemployment 8.3 COVID-19 Precautionary Measures and Regulations 8.4 Implications of COVID-19 Regulations on Youth Activities 8.4.1 COVID-19 and Its Effect on SGBV Among the Youth 8.4.2 COVID-19 Amplifies Youth Violence 8.4.3 Effect of COVID-19 on Youth Joblessness 8.4.4 Land and Housing Needs Among the Youth 8.4.5 Implications of COVID-19 Regulations on Youth Education 8.4.5.1 COVID-19 Lockdowns and Closure of Schools and Tertiary Institutions in Namibia 8.4.5.2 Opportunities and Challenges to Effective E-Learning in Namibia During COVID-19 8.4.5.3 Consequences of School Closures on the Youth 8.4.6 Implications of COVID-19 on Youth´s Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) 8.5 Call to Action to Address Youth Vulnerabilities Resulting from COVID-19 References Chapter 9: Catalyzing Action on Intimate Partner Violence Against Pregnant Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Zambia 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Background: IPV Globally and in Africa 9.2.1 Violence Against Women and Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa 9.2.2 Risk Factors of IPV 9.2.3 Consequences of IPV During Pregnancy 9.3 COVID-19 and IPV: One Pandemic Within Another 9.4 Addressing IPV: Lessons from a Zambian Study 9.4.1 A Lusaka, Zambia Case Study on IPV and Pregnant Adolescent Girls and Young Women 9.4.2 WHO Violence Prevention Frameworks 9.4.3 Factors Driving IPV in Zambian Communities 9.5 Danger Assessment (DA) and Safety Planning to Prevent IPV 9.6 Impact of the Danger Assessment Tool in Zambia 9.7 Using the INSPIRE Framework to Address Study Findings in Zambia 9.7.1 Other Health and Social Policy Recommendations 9.8 Conclusion References Chapter 10: Males´ Experiences of Gender-Based Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): A Review of Literature 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Methods 10.2.1 Data Analysis and Synthesis 10.3 Key Findings and Discussion 10.3.1 Males´ Experience of GBV in SSA 10.3.2 Causes and Permutations of GBV Among Males in the SSA Region 10.3.3 GBV Legislations in SSA Region 10.3.4 COVID-19 Pandemic and GBV in SSA 10.3.5 Prognosis: Roles of Key Stakeholders in Eradicating Violence 10.4 Conclusion 10.5 Study Limitations and Strengths References Chapter 11: Youth Exclusion and Violence as Intervention: The EndSARS Protest as Metaphor in Nigeria 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Context of Youth Exclusion in Nigeria 11.2.1 The EndSARS Protest 11.3 The (Social) Media, the Diaspora, and International Community 11.4 The Youths and EndSARS Protest in the Era of COVID-19: Lessons for Nigeria and Africa-Concluding Remarks References Index