Rape is notoriously prevalent in South Africa, but the greatest increase in sexual crimes there has been against infants and children under the age of seven. Photographer Mariella Furrer has been documenting this shocking story for over a decade, and has compiled her powerful photographs into a new book, "My Piece of Sky." Here, a pediatrician examines a sexually abused two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Johannesburg.
Rape is notoriously prevalent in South Africa, but the greatest increase in sexual crimes there has been against infants and children under the age of seven. Photographer Mariella Furrer has been documenting this shocking story for over a decade, and has compiled her powerful photographs into a new book, "My Piece of Sky." Here, a pediatrician examines a sexually abused two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Johannesburg.
Mariella Furrer/ "My Piece of Sky"
Johannesburg police officer Inspector 'Stroppie' Grobbelaar speaks with the aunt and adoptive mother of a missing six-year-old girl. He stopped by her house every day with an update. The girl was never found, Furrer told CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
Johannesburg police officer Inspector 'Stroppie' Grobbelaar speaks with the aunt and adoptive mother of a missing six-year-old girl. He stopped by her house every day with an update. The girl was never found, Furrer told CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
Mariella Furrer/ "My Piece of Sky"
A young girl attempts to flee a doctor's room before a medical forensic examination in Johannesburg. Her relative, a nine-year-old, admitted to playing "sexual games" with her and was later discovered to himself have been sexually abused.
A young girl attempts to flee a doctor's room before a medical forensic examination in Johannesburg. Her relative, a nine-year-old, admitted to playing "sexual games" with her and was later discovered to himself have been sexually abused.
Mariella Furrer/ "My Piece of Sky"
Women at the funeral of three-year-old Sibongile Mokoena in Soweto. Sibongile was raped and murdered in November 2003.
Women at the funeral of three-year-old Sibongile Mokoena in Soweto. Sibongile was raped and murdered in November 2003.
Mariella Furrer/ "My Piece of Sky"
A child's drawing at a center for abused children in Johannesburg, South Africa.
A child's drawing at a center for abused children in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mariella Furrer/ "My Piece of Sky"
Police prepare to raid a Johannesburg apartment where they believed children were being forced into prostitution.
Police prepare to raid a Johannesburg apartment where they believed children were being forced into prostitution.
Mariella Furrer/ "My Piece of Sky"
Chris, a nine-year-old boy who was allegedly gang raped and beaten with metal pipes and sticks by his peers, is driven to meet with a police social worker.
Chris, a nine-year-old boy who was allegedly gang raped and beaten with metal pipes and sticks by his peers, is driven to meet with a police social worker.
Mariella Furrer/ "My Piece of Sky"
Classmates of seven-year-old Sheldean Human at her Pretoria funeral in 2007. A suspect confessed the crime to police, and was later beaten to death in prison.
Classmates of seven-year-old Sheldean Human at her Pretoria funeral in 2007. A suspect confessed the crime to police, and was later beaten to death in prison.
Mariella Furrer/ "My Piece of Sky"