Children’s rights in South Africa

The South African Constitution:

Human Rights for people in South Africa are contained in a very important document called the South African Constitution. This document is important as it lists all the rights that people, and especially children, are entitled to. It also shows people what they could do if they feel that these rights are not respected.

The Constitution specifically provides for certain special rights for children, over and above the other rights available to people in South Africa.

One of the most important rights for children in the Constitution, is the right to have their best interests taken into account in every matter that concerns that child. This means that in every matter where a child is involved, adults must consider the circumstances of children and make sure that their actions and choices are in the child’s best interests.

For more on the rights of children in the Constitution, click on section 28 in the following link: The South African Constitution.

The Children’s Act:

South Africa also provides for all of these rights and more, in the Children’s Act.

The Children’s Act was written after the government accepted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

The aim of the Act is to make sure that children are able to grow up safely and develop well, and where they are abused or neglected, that they will be helped to recover.

The Act also says that children are allowed to have their say and participate in decisions that affect their lives.

The Act values families and tries to ensure that they are protected and supported. Sometimes parents are unable to look after their children properly, then the Act will try and help them through programmes that show them how to become better parents. When parents are not able to look after their children properly, even after they attended a programme, then the Act will help children to find another family or adults with which to stay. The Act also provides for rules to ensure proper and safe after-care, crèches, drop-in centres, and child and youth care centres; and for children to consent to their own adoption.

Other Legislation:

Children living in South Africa receive protection from other pieces of legislation:

• The Child Justice Act applies to children who are alleged to or have committed crimes.

• The Sexual Offences Act applies to children who are victims of sexual offences.

• The Schools Act is the law applicable to children when they are in the school environment or want to get into school.