Abstract

SALIM, Thalem Adua  and  LOMBARD, Antoinette. The role of social workers in curbing girl marriages: a FAMSA case study. Social work (Stellenbosch. Online) [online]. 2020, vol.56, n.2, pp.190-207. ISSN 2312-7198.  https://doi.org/10.15270/52-2-820.

Girl marriage is a global problem which is also prevalent in South Africa. It imposes on the rights of children and is recognised as a harmful practice (United Nations, 2015). This paper reports on a case study with social workers of the Families and Marriage Society of South Africa (FAMSA) in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. The study concludes that the developmental approach presents a framework for social workers to curb girl marriages. Resources, coordination among stakeholders, monitoring ofprogrammes, interventions and policies are required to curb girl marriage. A rights-based policy and enforcement and monitoring of existing policies that protect children are key to ending the practice of girl marriage.

Keywords : girl marriage; child rights; child protection; gender inequality; developmental approach; FAMSA.

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