A COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT MODEL TO REDUCE CASES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN ZIMBABWE

Abstract

This research aims to develop a community empowerment model designed to mitigate instances of Child Sexual Abuse in Zimbabwe. There is substantial evidence indicating that child sexual abuse constitutes a significant global public health concern. Effective interventions must encompass strategies that prevent individuals from engaging in the sexual abuse of children or from accessing online materials depicting such abuse. To facilitate sustainable prevention, it is essential for program developers first to identify child sexual abuse perpetrators, understand the underlying causes and effects, assess existing legal responses across various societal levels, and categorize the different forms of child sexual abuse. Most contemporary international frameworks primarily focus on criminal justice measures intended to deter future offences rather than addressing the prevention of initial acts of abuse. Additionally, there is a notable scarcity of relevant research and few indications that countries are adopting cohesive, evidence-based policies aimed at preventing potential offenders from becoming actual perpetrators of child sexual abuse. Previous interventions have largely emphasized tertiary prevention. By adopting an integrated public health approach, a range of primary, secondary, and tertiary preventive measures can be incorporated into comprehensive prevention programs at local, national, or global levels. A holistic prevention strategy is essential, one that seeks to avert offenses from occurring in the first place while recognizing the complexity and diversity inherent in child sexual abuse perpetration.