Legal shortcomings in multisectoral forums responding to child sexual abuse (CSA): lessons from a Zimbabwe case study
Legal services constitute an important component of the Victim Friendly System (VFS) in Zimbabwe, a multisectoral forum that offers distinct but complimentary medical, psychosocial and legal services to child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. The paper identifies a number of loopholes in the VFS judicia...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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National Association of Social Workers
2021
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| Online Access: | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajsw/article/view/206273/194501 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4180 |
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| author | Muridzo, Noel G. Mahunste, Samuel L. Chikadzi, Victor Mafa, Itai |
| author_facet | Muridzo, Noel G. Mahunste, Samuel L. Chikadzi, Victor Mafa, Itai |
| author_sort | Muridzo, Noel G. |
| collection | DSpace |
| description | Legal services constitute an important component of the Victim Friendly System (VFS) in Zimbabwe, a multisectoral forum that offers distinct but complimentary medical, psychosocial and legal services to child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. The paper identifies a number of loopholes in the VFS judicial services. A qualitative approach was adopted with data collected from 38 participants and 4 key informants selected using theoretical and purposive sampling respectively. A total of 300 court transcripts of child sexual abuse cases were also reviewed. Findings show that there exist legal shortcomings that include contradictions; the
system permitting witness interference; the system suffers limited coverage and that the system releases offenders on bail into the child’s environment. We argue that these shortfalls are to the detriment of survivors’ wellbeing. These findings provide some insights that are useful in improving child protection interventions. Given the well documented effects of CSA on survivors and the importance of legal systems in child protection, we recommend legal and policy reforms in line with international conventions. In addition, there is need to increase access of services including judicial services. |
| format | Article |
| id | ir-11408-4180 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | National Association of Social Workers |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-41802022-10-15T20:43:37Z Legal shortcomings in multisectoral forums responding to child sexual abuse (CSA): lessons from a Zimbabwe case study Muridzo, Noel G. Mahunste, Samuel L. Chikadzi, Victor Mafa, Itai Child sexual abuse Legal services Legal shortcomings Victim friendly system Zimbabwe Legal services constitute an important component of the Victim Friendly System (VFS) in Zimbabwe, a multisectoral forum that offers distinct but complimentary medical, psychosocial and legal services to child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors. The paper identifies a number of loopholes in the VFS judicial services. A qualitative approach was adopted with data collected from 38 participants and 4 key informants selected using theoretical and purposive sampling respectively. A total of 300 court transcripts of child sexual abuse cases were also reviewed. Findings show that there exist legal shortcomings that include contradictions; the system permitting witness interference; the system suffers limited coverage and that the system releases offenders on bail into the child’s environment. We argue that these shortfalls are to the detriment of survivors’ wellbeing. These findings provide some insights that are useful in improving child protection interventions. Given the well documented effects of CSA on survivors and the importance of legal systems in child protection, we recommend legal and policy reforms in line with international conventions. In addition, there is need to increase access of services including judicial services. 2021-05-13T12:28:51Z 2021-05-13T12:28:51Z 2021 Article 1563-3934 2409-5605 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajsw/article/view/206273/194501 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4180 en African Journal of Social Work;Vol. 11; No. 1: p. 32-39 open National Association of Social Workers |
| spellingShingle | Child sexual abuse Legal services Legal shortcomings Victim friendly system Zimbabwe Muridzo, Noel G. Mahunste, Samuel L. Chikadzi, Victor Mafa, Itai Legal shortcomings in multisectoral forums responding to child sexual abuse (CSA): lessons from a Zimbabwe case study |
| title | Legal shortcomings in multisectoral forums responding to child sexual abuse (CSA): lessons from a Zimbabwe case study |
| title_full | Legal shortcomings in multisectoral forums responding to child sexual abuse (CSA): lessons from a Zimbabwe case study |
| title_fullStr | Legal shortcomings in multisectoral forums responding to child sexual abuse (CSA): lessons from a Zimbabwe case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Legal shortcomings in multisectoral forums responding to child sexual abuse (CSA): lessons from a Zimbabwe case study |
| title_short | Legal shortcomings in multisectoral forums responding to child sexual abuse (CSA): lessons from a Zimbabwe case study |
| title_sort | legal shortcomings in multisectoral forums responding to child sexual abuse (csa): lessons from a zimbabwe case study |
| topic | Child sexual abuse Legal services Legal shortcomings Victim friendly system Zimbabwe |
| url | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajsw/article/view/206273/194501 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4180 |
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