SIGNIFICANACE OF SEXUALITY ISSUES IN SOCIAL WORK

U radu se daje pregled seksualnih tema prikazanih kroz manifestiranu i latentnu razinu pojavnosti u područjima socijalnog rada te mogući pristup socijalnih radnika istima. Na manifestnoj razini se o seksualnosti razmatra u socijalnom radu kada je riječ o seksualnom nasilju, prostituciji, oblicima seksualno rizičnog i neprihvaćenog ponašanja (poput parafilije i incesta), homoseksualnosti i spolno prenosivim bolestima. Latentna vidljivost seksualnih pitanja opravdana je činjenicom da je seksualnost važan aspekt ljudskog života, iako su u fokusu neke druge životne potrebe. U tom smislu govorimo o svim drugim područjima socijalnog rada s korisnicima svih dobnih skupina (djecom, mladima, odraslima i obiteljima te starijim osobama), u različitim nepovoljnim životnim okolnostima (s invaliditetom, kroničnim bolestima) i različitim životnim okruženjima skrbi (u domovima, penalnim institucijama i bolničkom smještaju). U pristupu socijalnog radnika kada se bavi ovim temama, treba voditi računa posebice o pravu korisnika na samoodređenje, principu povjerljivosti i granicama profesionalnih kompetencija, a aktivnosti mogu biti usmjerene prema: prepoznavanju i integriranju seksualnih potreba korisnika, zaštiti i promoviranju njihovih ljudskih prava u ovim aspektima, pružanju podrške i osnaživanju, stvaranju i obnavljanju socijalnih mreža, te pružanju informacija o drugim društvenim servisima vezanim za pitanja koja ima u svezi svoje seksualnosti. Zaključno, predložena su daljnja praktična i istraživačka pitanja.The paper provides an overview of sexuality issues by presenting the manifested and latent level of its occurrence in the field of social work as well as social workers’ possible approaches to these issues. In social work, the manifested level of sexuality refers to sexual violence, prostitution, various forms of sexually inappropriate and risky behaviour (such as paraphilia and incest), homosexuality and sexually transmitted diseases. The latent level refers to the fact that sexuality is an important aspect of human life, although the focus is on some other life needs. Therefore it includes various aspects of social work with members of all age groups (children, youth, adults, families and the elderly), in various unfavourable living conditions (people with disabilities or chronic diseases) and living under care (in homes, penal institutions, and hospitals). When dealing with these issues, social workers need to pay special attention to clients’ rights to self-determination, confidentiality principle and limitations of professional competences. The social workers’ activities can be aimed towards the following: recognising and integrating clients’ sexual needs, protecting and promoting this aspect of clients’ human rights, supporting and strengthening, creating and recovering social networks and providing information on other social services related to sexuality issues. In conclusion, further practical and research questions are proposed