An exploration of the efficacy of the Namibian child protection system in responding to violence against children
type: CreativeWork
description: The UN Secretary General‘s Study on Violence against Children approached child protection systems from the perspectives of human rights, public health and child protection. A global agenda to protect children emphasised the urgency of country level action with targets for governments. The UNCRC and the ACRWC underpin the delivery of high quality essential services to all children. There is increasing recognition worldwide, as well as in Namibia, that the protection of children cannot be effectively achieved through fragmented, issue-specific programmes which results in ineffective programming: this is neither sustainable nor able to reach children who are in need of protection. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of the Namibian Child Protection System in responding to violence against children. The study considered the child’s journey through the system in order to provide recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the system. A qualitative, explorative design and a phenomenological approach were used in this study. The theoretical frameworks that were employed are the Child Rights Based Approach, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems’ Approach and the Systems Approach. The target population consisted of children and parents with experience of the child protection system, as well as key experts and development partners. Non probability purposive sampling methods were used, and the primary data gathering tools were semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The researcher generated categories and sub-categories related to the central research objectives and the semi-structured interview guide. Furthermore, the researcher linked units of information to a participant and adhered to a specific set of ethical standards. This study revealed significant strengths in Namibia’s Child Protection System, such as the existence of a robust legislative framework, sound partnerships and the existence of specialised police units, shelters, child f…
abstract: The UN Secretary General‘s Study on Violence against Children approached child protection systems from the perspectives of human rights, public health and child protection. A global agenda to protect children emphasised the urgency of country level action with targets for governments. The UNCRC and the ACRWC underpin the delivery of high quality essential services to all children. There is increasing recognition worldwide, as well as in Namibia, that the protection of children cannot be effectively achieved through fragmented, issue-specific programmes which results in ineffective programming: this is neither sustainable nor able to reach children who are in need of protection. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of the Namibian Child Protection System in responding to violence against children. The study considered the child’s journey through the system in order to provide recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the system. A qualitative, explorative design and a phenomenological approach were used in this study. The theoretical frameworks that were employed are the Child Rights Based Approach, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems’ Approach and the Systems Approach. The target population consisted of children and parents with experience of the child protection system, as well as key experts and development partners. Non probability purposive sampling methods were used, and the primary data gathering tools were semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The researcher generated categories and sub-categories related to the central research objectives and the semi-structured interview guide. Furthermore, the researcher linked units of information to a participant and adhered to a specific set of ethical standards. This study revealed significant strengths in Namibia’s Child Protection System, such as the existence of a robust legislative framework, sound partnerships and the existence of specialised police units, shelters, child f…
author: Theron, Veronica R.
language: en
keywords: Efficacy, Violence
date published: 2016
date modified: 2026-07-27T20:22:16Z
provider: University of Namibia
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Namibia

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11070/1685