Social Workers Practice in the Court with Sexually Abused Children
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Date
2013-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study explored social workers practice in the court with sexually abused children
including the social workers’ role in the court; social workers interdisciplinary involvement and
their actual versus the expected roles in ‘Lideta’ Federal First Instance Court, Addis Ababa.
Qualitative case study research method was used to undertake this study. Accordingly it included
in-depth interview with four social workers, three prosecutors, one judge, administrator and two
lawyers. The data from these interviews were analyzed using pre coding and coding. Thematic
analysis was used as an approach to the data analysis. The finding of the study indicated that
social workers have diverse roles such as acting as an intermediary between the sexually abused
child as a witness and the court and preparing the child for court under special circumstances.
Furthermore, other roles such as: referral and advocacy has been discovered as roles social
workers. Social workers as well work with families of sexually abused children in case of interfamilial
sexual abuse being a mediator and an advocate. What is more is that, the study also
revealed, social workers have professional relationship with Prosecutors, Judges and Lawyers
while working with sexually abused children. The study also found out the center of the
relationship on social workers practice is working as an intermediary. The court also has a wide
discretionary power on permitting social workers either to be a witness or give an expert opinion
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Keywords
Social Work