CHILD’S RIGHT
Children are among the
most vulnerable members of society and need special protection. Nearly 20
million children live in our country, and it's our shared responsibility as
parents, families, communities, and government to ensure that all of our
children are safe from harm and grow up in nurturing environments. To ensure
this, children have special legal rights which are enforced by the state.
little-boy-and-girl-playing-together-in-the-classroom.
What are children’s rights?
Children’s
rights are entrenched in the act (2003) These rights are in the best interest of
all children under the age of 18 years old.
The drafters of our Constitution have made children's rights a priority. When
it comes to any matter affecting a child’s well-being, the Constitution states
that the best interests of a child are of paramount importance.
Understanding Children’s rights
Section 28 of the Bill of Rights, entitled "Children", says:
Every child has the right to:
*
A name and nationality from birth.
* Family care or parental care, or appropriate alternative care when removed
from the family environment.
* Basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services, and social services.
* Be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse, or degradation.
Be protected from exploitative labour practices.
* Not be required or permitted to perform work or provide services that are
inappropriate for a person of that child's age or risk the child's well-being,
education, physical or mental health, or spiritual, moral, or social development.
* Not be detained except as a measure of last resort, in which case, in
addition to the rights a child enjoys under sections 12 and 35, the child may
be detained only for the shortest appropriate period of time, and has the right
to be kept separately from detained persons over the age of 18 years.
* Be treated in a manner, and kept in conditions, that take account of the
child's age and have a legal practitioner assigned to the child by the state,
and at state expense, in civil proceedings affecting the child, if substantial
injustice would otherwise result.
* Not be used directly in armed conflict and to be protected in times of armed
conflict
* the right to family care, love, and protection and the responsibility to show
love