Addressing domestic violence from child welfare system in Spain and Guatemala: professionals’ perspectives

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26754/ojs_ais/ais.20264812553

Keywords:

Spain, Guatemala, Childhood, Adolescence, Child Protection System, Domestic violence

Abstract

This article analyses the limitations, good practices, and challenges of child and adolescent protection systems in response to intrafamilial violence in Spain and Guatemala. The methodology, qualitative in nature, is based on a literature review and semi-structured interviews with 34 professionals from the social services field. The results reveal several limitations. Although both countries have regulatory frameworks that respond to international commitments, they differ in scope and effectiveness. Identified good practices include community-based work strategies, continuous professional training, and interventions aimed at preventing revictimization and promoting the active participation of children and adolescents. The main challenges include resource scarcity, low levels of inter-institutional coordination, and the absence of a gender perspective in interventions. The study concludes that improving protection systems depends on stronger institutional commitment, stable coordination mechanisms, and a comprehensive approach that integrates prevention, care, and ongoing support.

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Author Biographies

  • Ester Serrano-Rodríguez, University of Cádiz

    Ester Serrano Rodríguez is an Interim Lecturer and PhD candidate in the Social, Criminological and Behavioral Sciences Program at the University of Cádiz. A social worker with experience in intervention with children, adolescents, and people in situations of social exclusion. Her main research areas focus on child protection, domestic violence, and gender perspective, fields in which she has several publications and research works. She has completed a research stay at the University of San Carlos of Guatemala.

  • Vanesa Hervías-Parejo, University of Cádiz

    Vanesa Hervías Parejo is a Tenured Lecturer in the Area of Social Work at the University of Cádiz. She teaches courses related to migration, gender, diversity, violence, and family and community development. A social worker, sociologist, political scientist, and feminist activist, she has professional experience in the fields of social education and family and intercultural mediation. She has extensive experience conducting primary empirical studies and a strong interest in both qualitative and quantitative analysis. She has participated in international (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile), national, and regional (Andalusian) research projects.

       

References

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Published

2026-05-11

Data Availability Statement

The data used for this research are available upon justified request to the corresponding author.

     

Issue

No. 48 (2026): Special issue: The Transformation of Social Services in Comparative Perspective: Trends and Reform Strategies in Response to Emerging Social Risks

Section

Special issue 48 AIS: The Transformation of Social Services in Comparative Perspective: Trends and Reform Strategies in Response to Emerging Social Risks

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Copyright (c) 2026 Ester Serrano-Rodríguez, Vanesa Hervías-Parejo

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How to Cite

Serrano-Rodríguez, E., & Hervías Parejo, V. (2026). Addressing domestic violence from child welfare system in Spain and Guatemala: professionals’ perspectives. Acciones E Investigaciones Sociales, 48. https://doi.org/10.26754/ojs_ais/ais.20264812553