A few facts and figures about the communities and people we serve:

• Worldwide, one in three women has been beaten, coerced into an unwanted sexual relationship, or abused − often by a family member or acquaintance. (World Population Foundation, UN Commission on the Status of Women, 2/28/00)
• 4 to 6 women get killed every day by their partner (World Population Foundation)
• In Africa, 1 in 22 women die due to pregnancy related causes, in the developed world this is 1 in 7300.

Such figures have pushed the South African legislature to create Acts which specify the ways in which our Rights to safety, security, access to information and health should be interpreted. Mosaic is a catalyst for empowerment of victims of domestic violence and abuse through the following acts:

• Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) Act 92 of 1996 (as amended)
  The aim of the Act is to give women with unwanted pregnancies access to free and safe TOP, with the state having an obligation to deliver the service. TOP is not a family planning method, but a last resort for managing unwanted pregnancy.
• Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998 - If you are abused, you may seek a Protection Order from a Magistrate's Court against an  abusive person who is committing the abuse or domestic violence. This could be:
  • Physical abuse
  • Verbal and emotional/psychological abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Economical abuse
  • Intimidation  
  • Harassment
  • Stalking    
  • Damage to property
• Criminal Law (Sexual Offenses) Amendment Bill 2006 This Bill will hopefully become an act during 2006, and will make amended provisions for offences with regard to:
  • Sexual offences including:
    • Rape
    • Sexual assault   
    • Display of sexual acts, genital organs and pornography
    • Incest (sexual act with blood relation)  
    • Bestiality (sexual act with an animal)
    • Sexual act with a corpse
  • Sexual offences against children, including sexual exploitation and sexual grooming of children, engaging in sexual acts, in the presence of children and exposing genital organs/anus/female breasts or pornography to children.

  The age of consent for sex is 16 which means that any sexual act with a child below the ago of 16, is unlawful. Sexual offences against mentally disabled persons.

  Once the Bill becomes an Act, victims of sexual offences will have more protection than before. SAPS, social workers, legal experts and organisations dealing with sexual offences will be there to provide you, the maximum and least traumatising protection according to the law.

South Africa's constitution is based on the fundamental principles of human dignity, equality, human rights and freedom for all.

Healthcare, security and access to information are enshrined in the Bill of Rights that forms part of the Constitution.

"Batho Pele" means "people first" and refers to Government's mission to improve all public services. Information and access to excellent services form an important part of the Batho Pele principles.