Citation

Kasherwa AC, Twikirize JM. Child Abuse Negl. 2018; 81: 74-81.

Affiliation

Department of Social Work and Social Administration, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Electronic address: jtwikirize@chuss.mak.ac.ug.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.04.012

PMID

29723701

Abstract

Ritualistic child sexual abuse (RCSA) is a critical and under-recognised form of child maltreatment prevailing in developing countries. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), children from specific communities suffer complex forms of RCSA perpetrated with extreme brutality by various individuals and groups of conspirators. Although the DRC has achieved significant milestones towards combatting war-related sexual abuse of women and children, disturbing forms of RCSA, notably child kidnapping, rape, child defilement for fetish and superstitious beliefs, child sexual exploitation, and cult-based child marriage persist and affect many victims. This study examines the factors associated with the resurgence of RCSA in post-conflict eastern DRC. The article also discusses the implications of such forms of abuse for social work practice and education in a post-war context.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Magical practices; Post-conflict setting; Ritualistic child sexual abuse; Social work; Superstition