THE SOCIO-EDUCATIONAL DIMENSION OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE IN BASIC EDUCATION: STRATEGIES FOR THE PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CIVIC EDUCATION OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

This article analyzes the socio-educational dimension of the social worker's practice in basic education, focusing on the prevention of sexual abuse and the civic education of children and adolescents, in light of human rights and the ethical-political project of Social Work. It starts from the understanding of the school as a strategic space for social protection and the promotion of citizenship, especially in the face of the multiple expressions of the social question that permeate daily school life. Based on the critical perspective of Social Work and on theoretical frameworks of education and child development, the study highlights sex education as a preventive, ethical, and emancipatory tool, capable of strengthening autonomy, the recognition of limits, and the breaking of silence in situations of violence. The research adopts a qualitative approach, based on bibliographic review and documentary analysis of legislation and guidelines such as the Statute of the Child and Adolescent, Law No. 13.935/2019, and the National Common Curricular Base. This article discusses the role of the social worker as a facilitator of public policies, a social educator, and an agent of transformation, highlighting the challenges and possibilities of intersectoral action. It concludes that the socio-educational dimension of professional practice is fundamental for building safe, inclusive school environments committed to the comprehensive protection and consolidation of the rights of children and adolescents.