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An overview of the site and requirements for submitting a contribution

The blog is a platform for Survivors of Sexual Child Abuse to tell their story, perhaps for the first time. The main objective is to break the silence that demands survivors be immersed in shame, guilt and embarrassment.  Tragically childhood sexual abuse is much more common than the general public believe, and the more the experiences of victims are brought to light the more society, parents, religious organizations, schools and families  will be compelled to admit that they cannot “ignore it and hope it will go away”. Furthermore abuse of this nature contaminates a multitude of aspects of life including relationships, sexual health, parenting ability, personal presentation and others. This forum allows for victims to begin, or continue the next level of their healing by being open and truthful, thus banishing the need for secrecy, and allowing them to find the help they need.

Scarlett Voices does not wish to be a platform for slander. We respect the requirements of the law and our ethical practices dictate that we do not name any person, whether victim or perpetrator on our site. We furthermore will not entertain efforts to reveal the possible identity of any person through indirect means eg The Minister at St Benedicts on Church Street in Welkom during 1972.

The blog is open to any member of the public who wishes to tell of their own personal experiences.

We understand that many health workers may wish to contribute the story of a client, but this would be both unethical and unlawful. Please remember that the internet is a public place. Consider this while you prepare your contribution.

Scarlett Voices is managed and maintained by a qualified trauma counsellor who specializes in sexual abuse trauma. She is a survivor of sexual abuse along with her mother, two sisters, several cousins and at least one aunt. For further information about the site administrator please send an email to tk@icon.co.za.

Please ensure that your submission meets with the following criteria:

1)      The story must be your own personal experience

2)      Please do not name any person’s real name in your story (including your own) or provide other information that may reveal their identity

3)      Your submission will be subject to editing to ensure that the content is not presented in a salacious manner, and that it does not reveal the identities of those involved

4)      Keep each submission to less than 1000 words

5)      Do not use any foul language or submit overly explicit content

Include with your submission:

Your real first name only (no surname), age, telephone number and email address. These are ONLY for our own records and will not ever be published.

Information for publication:

Your age or (age range) and location at the time of the abuse, and your race (example:  12, Cape Town, Coloured). – As a heading this will help you identify your own post.

Your current age and location

The relationship of the abuser to you (neighbour, friend, cousin)

The contribution of 1000 words or less

FAQ

How do I know the stories are real?

Each writer submits their story based on the criteria contained in this document. Due to the nature of the material and confidentiality issues we have no way of vetting the truthfulness or accuracy of any story we post. We hope that people act in good faith. Our suggestion is that you concentrate on presenting your own story as truthfully as possible, and trust that others will do the same.

How can I write my story so that it doesn’t seem like porn?

We understand that not everyone is a good writer or comfortable writing such sensitive material. We suggest that you write the story from the perspective of your emotions rather than the precise bodily activities that they originate from. Allow the readers to fill in the blanks on their own but provide enough information, in such a tone as to be sure that people don’t expect you to entertain them. For further guidance read several of the stories that have been previously published to get a better idea of suitable tone and language use.

How do I know that your blog does not attract the attention of paedophiles looking for a thrill?

Sadly, we cannot guarantee that this will not happen. We do, however our best to guard against it do.

–          The type of language and the tone of the stories will either encourage or dissuade the sexually perverted. Bear this in mind when you write your own contributions. Overly explicit or sexualized material will be edited or go unpublished.

–          We are investigating available options for working with the SAPS to track and trace possible predators / paedophiles

What will my story / information be used for?

The stories accumulated on this blog are used primarily for the purpose of providing a safe community in which survivors will know that they are not alone no matter how unlikely their experiences may seem. Information provided such as ages, race and location are used to map a geographical spread of incidents across various regions of South Africa and the world for research purposes.

Can I remove my post after is has been posted?

Sure. Drop us an email with your name, date of post and the email address from which it was sent and we will delete it within 48 hours.

Can I invite my family or partner to read my post?

As the blog is a public forum you may invite whomever you would like to read your post. While this may be a more accessible way to share your experiences with your significant others please do note that this blog does not in any way replace the valuable services of a reputable counsellor / psychologist / social worker.

My question is not listed here. What should I do?

Send an email with your question to tk@icon.co.za or visit https://www.facebook.com/PhoenixTraumaRecovery