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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: some implications for South African law |
Author: | Sloth-Nielsen, Julia |
Year: | 1995 |
Periodical: | South African Journal on Human Rights |
Volume: | 11 |
Issue: | 3 |
Pages: | 401-420 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | South Africa |
Subjects: | international agreements human rights children's rights |
External link: | https://doi.org/10.1080/02587203.1995.11827573 |
Abstract: | One of the first announcements made by President Mandela of South Africa on his accession to power in April 1994 was related to the domestic application of principles enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). The policy decisions in the area of children's rights are indicative of a commitment on the part of the government to set in motion the process which led to the ratification of the Convention by the Ambassador to the UN on 16 June 1995. After presenting some background information on the Convention, this paper examines some significant aspects of the Convention, as well as concerns surrounding it, such as the fact that the Convention has been branded 'anti-family'. Next, attention is paid to the rationale for the Convention and its underpinnings. This is followed by an overview of the Convention's contents, paying attention to the scope of application of the Convention, personality rights, civil and political rights, provisions aimed at protection, due process rights, and social, economic and cultural rights. The implementation of the rights enshrined in the Convention is discussed next. Finally, attention is paid to the implications of the ratification of the Convention for South African law. Areas of domestic law will have to be reviewed, but ratification also has broader ramifications for policy development. Notes, ref. |