Toward culturally relevant practice: combating gender-based violence among refugees in Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

This research focused on how to develop culturally relevant social work practices in addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among refugees in Ethiopia and aimed to bring Global South perspectives into the international debate. In-depth interviews were conducted with professionals (N = 8) selected using purposive sampling. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed that GBV interventions in Ethiopian refugee settings are in contradiction with the local sociocultural context and depend on Western knowledge and practice models. Hence, the profession of social work should decolonize itself; adopt a culturally relevant approach; embrace the centrality of culture and ensure the professional autonomy of social workers.

KEYWORDS:

• Culturally relevant practice
• indigenous social work
• refugees
• gender-based violence
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the social workers who participated in this study, Professors Kjeld Høgsbro (Ph.D.) and Maria Appel Nissen (Ph.D.) for their guidance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).