Child Sexual Abuse in Zimbabwe The Agenda for Social Workers

In Africa and many other developing countries in the Asia Pacific and Latin America, child sexual abuse is a serious problem that is on the increase. Cases of child sexual abuse are rarely reported because the majority of the perpetrators are related or close to the abused children, such as fathers, uncles, brothers, and, in some instances, their school teachers. Utilizing the Zimbabwean experience, this paper examines the problem of child sexual abuse. It argues that although Zimbabwe has ratified local, regional, and international conventions that purport to protect children, child sexual abuse is still rampant in the country. Helping professionals, such as social workers, should put this problem on their agenda.