RUAHA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY

This study was conducted to explore the role of social workers in the prevention of child sexual violence in Tanga City Council-Tanzania. The qualitative research approach was used in this study to allow the participants to express roles in child sexual violence prevention. The sample size for the study was eighteen social workers consisting of ten female and eight male social workers employed in government social work units. Twelve were SWOs from the Social Welfare Unit, four were SWOs from the hospital, and two were SWOs from the police gender desk. The interview was the tool for data collection. The finding of the study revealed that social workers fulfil their roles in preventing child sexual violence. These involve roles such as establishing and developing programs to prevent child sexual violence, such as the SMAUJATA campaign program, establishing a child committee at school, participating in research and innovation, referring victims to medical assistance and legal support, assisting the victims through the court process, conducting social investigation and providing online safety education. The study recommends that policies, programs, and services about child protection must continue to be promoted and advocated to increase awareness among families and communities with the hope that it will help better prevent the incidences of child sexual violence.

Child Rights, Social workers, Child sexual violence