Enhancing the capacity of Sociologists, social Workers and Anthropologists to address Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Background and Context
The Ethiopian Society of Sociologists, Social Workers and Anthropologists (ESSSWA) was founded in June 1996 as a professional society with full legal recognition in April 1997. ESSSWA re-registered according to the new Charities and Societies proclamation number 621/2001 as Ethiopian Resident Society in November 2009. The society had over 600 members working all over the country.
ESSSWA works with a vision to see sustainable and positive social change in Ethiopia and to be active participant in the transformation process. The mission of the society is to represent the interests of the professionals of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology and advance the application of these disciplines for the well being of the Ethiopian Society.
Cognizant of the magnitude and extent of child abuse, neglect and sexual exploitation in Ethiopia, ESSSWA started working with Oak Foundation since 2005. This is where the partnership with Oak Foundation was started. This brief background points out the overall project idea and enables consultants/professional service providers with key dimensions to which ESSSWA has pledged and need to be assessed in this assignment. The overall goal of this project is to contribute towards creating a safer environment for the growth and wellbeing of children specifically vulnerable, sexually abused and exploited children in Ethiopia.
ESSSWA, through this project intervention, will enhance its institutional capacity to deliver quality professional services for young professionals, service providers and other duty bearers. ESSSWA will be instrumental for Social Work professionals in the country to make them technically competent and ethically fit to protect, prevent and rehabilitate sexually abused and exploited children.
The project will also enable Social Workers to have a professional code of conduct to ethically govern their work, standardize their practices and approaches in working with vulnerable children and ensure the utmost protection of children. The project, furthermore, will create/strengthen national and regional policy and development practice dialogue forums to avoid silo professional mentalities and enhance exchange of innovativeness and best practices among professionals working for government and non-governmental organizations as well as the private sector.
In this three year project ESSSWA will introduce the issue of men and boys engagement to address child sexual abuse and exploitation to the Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology professionals. The project provides specifically tailored trainings on the role of Sociologists, Social Workers and Anthropologists to address child sexual abuse and exploitation through this approach. Besides, ESSSWA supports young researchers to generate new knowledge and promote best practice to address the existing and emerging challenges of child protection. The project strives to nurture the construction of knowledge base through developing annotated bibliographies and introducing publications on child protection, child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Currently, ESSSWA is working with public (University of Gondar, Jimma University, Addis Ababa University and Adama University) and private university colleges (Alpha University College and St. Marry University College) that are providing trainings in Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology at a doctoral, masters and bachelors’ level. ESSSWA has entered in to a three year project specific memorandum of understanding with universities and regional chapters towards achieving the common goal stipulated in this project.
Objective of the Project
Develop and introduce a code of conduct for professionals, academicians and students of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology to guide their work in the delivery of services to various groups of children with a focus on sexually abused and exploited children,
Develop awareness of members, faculty and students (Sociology, Social work and Anthropology professionals) on the code of conduct and guiding principles of child protection,
Enhance knowledge and facilitate experience sharing among members, faculty and students of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology
