NCJ Number
228787
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 33 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2009 Pages: 728-738
Date Published
October 2009
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study sought to identify the social, cultural, and political factors that affect African unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors' (UASM) vulnerability to sexual maltreatment in England.
Abstract
Although unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors (UASM) share many similarities with indigenous children in care, they may be placed at greater risk of sexual maltreatment by their socio-cultural alienation and the challenges of acculturation, migration status, communication difficulties, absence of family in the host country, England, inappropriate accommodation, and high levels of exposure to potential perpetrators. If not protected adequately, professionals should assume that UASMs will suffer sexual maltreatment in their host country (England). In addition, they are likely to need more protection from outside sources, as well as help to develop their personal resources than many have been afforded to date. UASM are exposed to a myriad of personal, social, political, economic, and cultural factors that increase their risk of sexual maltreatment. Their vulnerability and response to it are shaped by their early experiences as well as their perceptions of the host country. This paper describes a study which sought to identify how the sexual maltreatment of UASM from Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia in the United Kingdom could be prevented. Tables and references