A powerful narrative on child abuse, rights

THE retirement of children's rights advocate and former provincial head of the KZN Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, Pat Moodley, has birthed a novel which creates awareness and provides a platform to stimulate discussions around grooming, bullying, cyber-bullying, sexual and child violence.

- CHEVON BOOYSEN

AT THE launch, hosted parallel to the 28th Annual Global Family Law Conference, Pat Moodley said her intention with the novel is to create a platform where it is introduced to high school curricula.

(ARMAND HOUGH Independent Newspapers)

The novel, Sunshine Lost, has taken real life issues that teenagers can relate to and tells a story of a young learner forced to leave behind her innocent childhood to navigate a path involving grooming, bullying and abuse.

Moodley is an advocate for children's rights and has been part of the team responsible for drafting the current legislation protecting the rights of children, and her journey has continued to ensure the implementation of that legislation.

Moodley has had a career in justice spanning over 30 years in various roles, including sitting as a Family Court magistrate and has assisted countless families and children to protect their rights.

Moodley concluded that there is insufficient advocacy regarding violence against children.

"Social media platforms provide just enough cover for the perpetrators to cause serious emotional harm to the victims. There is a dearth of information available on and a serious lack of advocacy on these issues.