An Examination on the Role of Professional Counselling Services to Child Victims of Sexual Abuse in the Victim Friendly Legal System in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study sought to examine the role of professional counselling services to child victims of sexual abuse in the victim friendly legal system in Zimbabwe. A representative sample of twenty (20) participants took part in this study. These participants held positions of regional magistrates, prosecutors, intermediaries and police officers. These participants have the capacity to influence policy formulation and implementation in the various government line ministries and non-governmental organizations that operate in the child sector field. A qualitative research descriptive survey design was employed to guide the methodology. Data was collected using the interview schedule guide. Qualitative data analysis with descriptive statistics was used in the presentation, interpretation and analysis of data. The results showed that professional counselling services were required by child victims of sexual abuse as a way to empowerment, boosting self-esteem and protection against re-traumatisation. There was a finding that there was lack of coordination amongst stakeholders in the child sector as each organization tended to compete with the other organization to outdo each other in fighting to protect children from abuse by claiming that they were good counsellors. Activities of all stakeholders needed to be well coordinated to avoid issues to do with duplication of roles and competition that tends to dilute the best interest practices for children from abuse. Recommendations made include the government making it mandatory that the allocation of all professional counselling services be made to professionally trained and experienced people and there should be zero tolerance to re-traumatisation, stigmatisation and discrimination of victims.