C 4.3.1. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE POLICE, PROSECUTION AND MAGISTRATES     Victims navigating the system need to be kept informed of the different stages their cases are at. This empowers them to understand the criminal process and enables them to cope within the wider community. The passage of time alone should not be a factor in not investigating a case, not prosecuting it effectively or acquitting an accused person. Different women and girls react differently to the trauma occasioned by rape and this needs to be taken into account in assessing cases. In addition, there needs to be appreciation of some of the social factors impeding timely reporting of rape to the relevant authorities. The police needs to be encouraged to explore the circumstances surrounding rape of children with a view to ensuring the full implementation of the law including the legal provisions dealing with complicity, as well as the legal provisions dealing with harm and neglect of children. The justice system needs to be fully resourced in order to ensure that the Victim Friendly System works for victims. Timely prosecution and timely production of written judgments need to be standard in each rape or sexual abuse case. This will ensure that justice is not only done, but is seen to be done which can help engender public confidence in the system. 4.4. Conclusion It is hoped that the cases highlighted in this booklet provide an insight into the experiences of survivors of rape, whether at home, in the school or within the courts. For most of the children whose stories are captured herein, the aftermath of the rape has exacerbated the original experience of rape, leading to the rape being indeed a continuing harm. Some have fallen pregnant and been forced by circumstances to carry and care for babies conceived as a result of this heinous act. What is worse is that they are but children themselves. In navigating this complex system, they have to contend with a society that is not sensitive to the plight of rape victims and they therefore oftentimes find themselves being blamed and ostracized by their communities. It is hoped that the insights gained through the cases highlighted in this study will provide guidance in terms of the areas that need the urgent attention of all stakeholders. 33 29