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A Study of Alternative Measures in Resolving Cases of Child Sexual Abuse among the Ga Community in Accra, Ghana.
- Source :
- Child Abuse Review; Jan/Feb2022, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p27-39, 13p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Many children continue to be sexually abused worldwide. In Ghana, relatively high figures of child sexual abuse (CSA) are reported by the police daily. Although there are laws that seek to protect children from sexual abuse, in reality, there is a wide gulf between legislation and practice. This paper explores why this is so by examining the measures adopted in sanctioning perpetrators of CSA in the Ga community in Ghana. The study uses a qualitative approach to collect data from parents and guardians through in‐depth interviews. The study revealed that, generally, traditional rather than legal sanctions are adopted in handling CSA cases. This paper thus interrogates the consequences of the obvious contraventions of the law as traditional interventions are resorted to. We posit that CSA can be minimised only when child protection laws are enforced by the police and victims are reoriented to appreciate the benefits of seeking legal redress. Key Practitioner Messages: Conscious efforts must be made to destigmatise child sexual abuse.Sensitisation programmes should be organised periodically by stakeholders to educate community members on child sexual abuse.The police in partnership with the media must also lead the campaign to educate the populace that choosing traditional options of redress and non‐disclosure of incestuous acts against children is a clear violation of the law and the rights of the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- PREVENTION of child sexual abuse
CHILD sexual abuse laws
PARENT attitudes
CAREGIVER attitudes
SEX offenders
HUMAN rights
GOVERNMENT regulation
RESEARCH methodology
COMMUNITIES
INTERVIEWING
SOCIAL stigma
CRIME victims
QUALITATIVE research
EXPERIENCE
SELF-disclosure
PUNISHMENT
CHILD welfare
GUARDIAN & ward
GOVERNMENT policy
RESEARCH funding
ETHNIC groups
LEGAL procedure
JUDGMENT sampling
STATISTICAL sampling
THEMATIC analysis
RURAL population
POLICE
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09529136
- Volume :
- 31
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Child Abuse Review
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 154960404
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/car.2711