HURT OR HELP? UNDERSTANDING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL NORMS AS PRACTISED IN RURAL AREAS

Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses a serious threat to the welfare of women. IPV against women has aroused intense interest amongst policymakers, practitioners and researchers. Despite this development, IPV against women remains rife but there is still a dearth of research on the linkages between IPV and social norms. This study is a critical review of the literature on IPV and social norms as well as its impact on social work practice and policy. The authors argue that social norms can either promote or prevent IPV intervention and therefore propose an integrated approach to addressing IPV against women

CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES TO ADULT VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN SELECT SHELTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Human trafficking is a global multi-million dollar industry which capitalises on the trade in human beings. It inflicts degrading experiences on its victims, hence its characterisation as modern-day slavery. This research aimed to investigate social service provision to adult victims of human trafficking in South Africa. A qualitative approach was used; data were collected using individual interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that social workers faced challenges such as delays in court cases, complicated trauma, security issues and mistrust – all impacting on service delivery

LIFTING THE VEIL OF SILENCE: EXPLORING ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES OF MALE REFUGEE LEARNERS AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Children who flee home face numerous challenges to their development and survival. A recent report by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) (2012) stated that 46% of refugees are children under the age of 18. Political instability (Ong’ayo, 2008), climatic changes (Afifi, Govil, Sakdapolrak & Warner, 2012), ethnic cleansing and civil wars (De Jong, 2002), post-election violence (Adeagbo & Iyi, 2011), and socio-economic challenges (Adepoju, 2002) in Africa have forced many of these young people to leave their communities and countries to search for a better life, safety and security in other countries. It is apparent that being resettled as a refugee in another country does not in itself ensure stability or achievement of a sense of belonging, or that those psycho-emotional wounds will automatically disappear (Gomez & Christensen, 2011; Kimi & Mwaruvie, 2012). Certainly, special protection ought to be accorded to refugee children, because their growth and development have been hampered. Traumatic ordeals leave them vulnerable and they have to face additional challenges not experienced by other children in their age group

“MUCH OF OUR COUNSELLING IS ABOUT YOUR FACIAL EXPRESSION AND AUTHENTICITY”: SCHOOL-BASED COUNSELLING DURING COVID-19 IN KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE

Maintaining therapeutic care of learners during and after COVID-19 in South Africa has required significant changes to the way that counselling is provided in schools. While some of these changes are well documented, there are critical gaps regarding the experiences of school counsellors during the pandemic period, globally and in South Africa. Hence this qualitative study sought to explore the experiences of school psychosocial practitioners who are rendering supportive services in private schools in KwaZulu-Natal Province. While the findings show that remote/online therapy is a valid option, all schools should ensure that therapists have adequate resources and the necessary collaboration to provide effective services to the school community. Furthermore, interpersonal, organisational, practice, policy and advocacy-oriented adaptations are required in establishing transformative interventions in all schools to address trauma

534 Identification and initial care process of child victims of transnational trafficking: a social work perspective

Abstract: Child trafficking violates children’s rights and undermines their protection. Underidentification of child victims of trafficking has been reported to be a challenge globally and in South Africa. This article illustrates the process a social worker could apply when identifying child victims of transnational trafficking. Findings of the qualitative research reveal that there is no single point of entry for a trafficked child and thus there can be several actors in the identification process; it was also found that initial care and protection are also essential. The role of social workers in the identification-assessmentcare process is highlighted

IDENTIFICATION AND INITIAL CARE PROCESS OF CHILD VICTIMS OF TRANSNATIONAL TRAFFICKING: A SOCIAL WORK PERSPECTIVE

Child trafficking violates children’s rights and undermines their protection. Under-identification of child victims of trafficking has been reported to be a challenge globally and in South Africa. This article illustrates the process a social worker could apply when identifying child victims of transnational trafficking. Findings of the qualitative research reveal that there is no single point of entry for a trafficked child and thus there can be several actors in the identification process; it was also found that initial care and protection are also essential. The role of social workers in the identification-assessment-care process is highlighted.

THE CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY ZIMBABWEAN SOCIAL WORKERS PRACTISING IN GAUTENG TOWNSHIPS

South Africa has seen increasing numbers of skilled and unskilled migrants coming into the country legally and illegally. Social work is a global profession and some of the skilled migrants coming to South Africa are social workers with foreign qualifications. This qualitative research was motivated by the need to understand the challenges faced by Zimbabwean social workers who are practising in a township in Gauteng province. Findings indicate that foreign social workers face challenges trying to navigate the work space in South Africa. This study makes a contribution to debates on the migration of professionals as an important policy issue for South Africa

Actividad física, salud mental y apoyo psicosocial

La actividad física (incluido el deporte) es una estrategia con base empírica, aunque poco reconocida, para proteger y promover la SMAPS entre las poblaciones desplazadas

Violence against children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected children's risk of violence in their homes, communities and online, and has compromised the ability of child protection systems to promptly detect and respond to cases of violence. However, the need to strengthen violence prevention and response services has received insufficient attention in national and global pandemic response and mitigation strategies. In this paper, we summarize the growing body of evidence on the links between the pandemic and violence against children. Drawing on the World Health Organization's INSPIRE framework to end violence against children, we illustrate how the pandemic is affecting prevention and response efforts. For each of the seven INSPIRE strategies we identify how responses to the pandemic have changed children's risk of violence. We offer ideas for how governments, policy-makers, and international and civil society organizations can address violence in the context of a protracted COVID-19 crisis. We conclude by highlighting how the current pandemic offers opportunities to improve existing child protection systems to address violence against children. We suggest enhanced multisectoral coordination across the health, education, law enforcement, housing, child and social protection sectors. Actions need to prioritize the primary prevention of violence and promote the central role of children and adolescents in decision-making and programme design processes. Finally, we stress the continued need for better data and evidence to inform violence prevention and response strategies that can be effective during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic

"Pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" : experiences of unaccompanied refugee girls in Cape Town

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-99).The arrival of unaccompanied minors poses unique challenges to the host country, raising serious questions about the rights and psychosocial health of that child. This mini thesis explores the experiences of young unaccompanied girls who arrived in South Africa and who are classified today as teenage refugee girls. The author investigated the challenges faced and adjustment mechanisms applied by the girls during pre-migration, trans-migration and post-migration phases. This study highlights significance of stability and safety for functional adolescent development and what happens when stability and safety are absent