Centre for Child Law http://hdl.handle.net/2263/78392024-03-28T11:28:36Z2024-03-28T11:28:36ZTurning the rights lens inwards' : the case for child rights-consistent strategic litigation practiceNolan, AoifeSkelton, Ann, 1961-http://hdl.handle.net/2263/918742023-08-22T07:44:48Z2022-12-01T00:00:00ZTurning the rights lens inwards' : the case for child rights-consistent strategic litigation practice
Nolan, Aoife; Skelton, Ann, 1961-
The last three decades have seen an explosion of academic, advocacy and policy-maker interest in both the theory and the practice of children’s rights. There is a growing global body of strategic litigation focused on the advancement of those rights through positive legal and/or social change.
In this context, child rights have primarily played an ‘outward-facing’ role: used as a schema that should constrain or mandate the actions of external decision-makers that are the targets of litigation. However, children’s rights have not generally been used as a framework by which to assess, and as necessary, critique strategic litigation practice—i.e. as a lens to be turned inwards by litigators to consider the extent to which their practice is consistent with child rights standards.
This article considers the case for child rights strategic litigation (CRSL) practice that is child rights-consistent. In doing so, it identifies CRSL-relevant rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and outlines how such rights arise in the litigation process. It ultimately posits that child rights can serve as a clear, multi-faceted framework that enables litigators to strengthen their existing practice in a legitimate, unified and coherent way.
2022-12-01T00:00:00ZGiant leaps or baby steps? A preliminary review of the development of children’s rights jurisprudence in ZimbabweMagaya, Isabel E.K.Fambasayi, Rongedzayihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/839742022-04-08T22:50:16Z2021-01-01T00:00:00ZGiant leaps or baby steps? A preliminary review of the development of children’s rights jurisprudence in Zimbabwe
Magaya, Isabel E.K.; Fambasayi, Rongedzayi
This contribution provides an overview of children’s rights adjudication in
Zimbabwe with a specific focus on emerging jurisprudence under the 2013
Constitution. After a summary of Zimbabwe’s performance in
implementing children’s rights under both international and African
regional law, the authors examine how Zimbabwean superior courts have
dealt with the protection of children's rights. In order to give a fair
assessment, we begin by reflecting on the Lancaster House (LH)
Constitution (1980) and the resultant jurisprudence thus shedding light on
how courts conceptualised children’s rights in the absence of a specific
child rights provision in the Constitution. This is followed by an analysis of
the emerging jurisprudence under the 2013 Constitution which specifically
entrenches children’s rights. We focus specifically on cases decided
between 2013-2019. A focus on seminal court judgements and how courts
adjudicated children’s rights will guide the authors in ultimately deciding
whether or not Zimbabwean courts have made giant leaps or baby steps in
the protection and promotion of children’s rights under the 2013
Constitution.
2021-01-01T00:00:00ZAge of consent : a case for harmonizing laws and policies to advance, promote and protect adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health rightsTallarico, RenataOzah, Ronaldah Lerato KaraboOrievulu, Kingsley S.http://hdl.handle.net/2263/835112023-07-31T09:07:58Z2021-04-01T00:00:00ZAge of consent : a case for harmonizing laws and policies to advance, promote and protect adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health rights
Tallarico, Renata; Ozah, Ronaldah Lerato Karabo; Orievulu, Kingsley S.
The article assesses the legal and policy frameworks that have an impact on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health rights (ASRHR) in East and Southern Africa (ESA), confirming the interconnectedness of the ages of consent to sexual activity, marriage, and services and its influence on adolescents’ human rights. It reviews international, continental and national legal instruments used to identify relevant provisions on ASRHR in the ESA region. The region demonstrates substantial disparities between realities of sexual debut among adolescents, national (statutory and customary) laws and policies on ages of consent to sex, marriage and medical services, and international standards around these SRHR issues. These disparities constitute negative consequences: criminalising adolescents, entrenching child marriage, and excluding adolescents from accessing medical services required to secure and promote ASRHR. While some ESA countries lack clear laws and policies on the three issues, cases of internal contradictions and disharmony with international standards abound. This impacts on the full realization of sexual and reproductive health rights of adolescents and young people in the region.; L’article évalue les cadres juridiques et politiques qui ont un impact sur les droits des adolescents en matière de santé sexuelle et génésique (ASRHR) en Afrique de l’Est et australe (ESA), confirmant l’interconnexion de l’âge du consentement à l’activité sexuelle, au mariage et aux services et son influence sur les droits de l’homme des adolescents. Il passe en revue les instruments juridiques internationaux, continentaux et nationaux utilisés pour identifier les dispositions pertinentes sur l’ASRHR dans la région de l’ESA. La région présente d’importantes disparités entre les réalités des débuts sexuels chez les adolescents, les lois et politiques nationales (légales et coutumières) sur l’âge du consentement au sexe, au mariage et aux services médicaux, et les normes internationales relatives à ces questions liées à la RSR. Ces disparités ont des conséquences négatives : criminalisation des adolescents, enchâssement du mariage des enfants et exclusion des adolescents de l’accès aux services médicaux nécessaires à la sécurisation et à la promotion de l’ASRHR. Alors que certains pays de l’ESA ne disposent pas de lois et de politiques claires sur ces trois questions, les cas de contradictions internes et de discorde avec les normes internationales abondent. Cela a un impact sur la pleine réalisation des droits sexuels et génésique en matière de santé des adolescents et des jeunes de la région.
2021-04-01T00:00:00ZChildren and Medical Decision Makinghttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/769272023-08-17T09:15:25Z2020-10-30T00:00:00ZChildren and Medical Decision Making
The Constitutional Court judgments of Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children and Another v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Another 2014 (1) SACR 327 (CC) and Centre for Child Law and Others v Media 24 Ltd and Others 2020 (1) SACR 469 (CC) have set important precedents for a child’s autonomy and privacy. Two requirements are put forth in the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 for when a child may consent to his or her own medical treatment. The first requirement is the age of consent. A child aged 14 and older was allowed to consent to his or her own medical treatment and his or her surgery at 18 years without parental consent under the now repealed Child Care Act 74 of 1983. The Children’s Act however reduced this age of consent for both medical treatment and surgery and section 129 of the Children’s Act states that a child can consent to his or her own medical treatment without parental assistance at the age of 12. The second requirement is the maturity of the child which entails his or her ability to understand the nature of the medical procedure and the risk and consequence of giving consent to it. If one of the two requirements is not met, then consent may be obtained from the parent or guardian or caregiver of the child, the Superintendent of the hospital or the person in charge of the hospital, the Minister of Social Development or a High Court or Children’s Court.
Mini Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2020.
2020-10-30T00:00:00Z