The Role of National Courts in Promoting Children’s Rights

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Sandberg
Keyword(s):  
Supreme Court ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Criminal Cases ◽  
National Courts ◽  
Societal Interests

National courts have a central role to play in the implementation of children’s rights. In this article, decisions of the Norwegian Supreme court in criminal cases and immigration cases are discussed. They shed interesting light on issues under article 3, such as whether the courts should base their judgment on the present facts, the balancing of the child’s best interests against other considerations, and whether article 3 is self-executing and justiciable. The consequences of a child not being heard are considered. Criminal and immigration cases both contain strong societal interests, but the willingness to give priority to children’s rights seems to differ in the two areas.

Opinions Regarding the Principle of Promoting with Priority the Superior Interest of the Child in the Regulation of Law No. 272/2004 and the Romanian Civil Code

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-156
Author(s):  
Aurelia Teodora Drăghici ◽  
Andrei Murgu ◽  
Teodor Bodoașcă
Keyword(s):  
Children's Rights ◽  
Civil Code ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Legal Analysis ◽  
Best Interest ◽  
Regulation Of Law

SummaryThe study is devoted mainly to the logical-legal analysis of the provisions of art. 2 of Law no. 272/2004 on the promotion and protection of children’s rights, as well as art. 263 of the Civil Code, which establish the main normative solutions regarding the “priority promotion of the principle of the best interests of the child”. Although the phrase “the best interests of the child” is used in the construction of many rules of Law no. 272/2004, the Civil Code and other normative acts, the legislator refrained from establishing its significance, leaving this approach to the doctrine. The proposed study is intended to be a contribution to achieving this goal. We were also concerned with the identification of normative inaccuracies and the substantiation of pertinent proposals of lege ferenda for the improvement of the regulations regarding the principle of promoting with priority the principle of the best interest of the child.

Citizenship and Rights of Children

2020 ◽  
pp. 221-236
Author(s):  
David B. Thronson
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Forced Migration ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Central Factor ◽  
Family Unity

Citizenship plays a larger and more critical role in the life of children than it should. Children who lack citizenship are incredibly vulnerable to exploitation. In the migration context, a child’s citizenship can be largely determinative of where and with whom a child lives. Despite a modern children’s rights framework that recognizes the humanity and autonomy of children, citizenship and nationality still form an integral part of a child’s identity and play a critical role in a child’s development. It has a pervasive impact in securing other rights for children and can be a central factor in a child’s cultural and linguistic background, education, economic and environment exposures, and virtually all aspects of a child’s daily life. This chapter examines children’s right to citizenship and explores the ongoing crisis of statelessness that undermines these rights. It reviews the role that citizenship plays in both voluntary and forced migration of children, child-specific protections found in both universal and regional human rights frameworks, and the role of children’s citizenship in promoting family unity.

The Best Interests of the Child

2020 ◽  
pp. 203-221
Author(s):  
Wouter Vandenhole ◽  
Gamze Erdem Türkelli
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Family Law ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
European Court ◽  
Elusive Concept

The best interests of the child principle is considered a pillar of children’s rights law and, according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), is to be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children. Yet best interests is an elusive concept and principle that has no single authoritative definition or description. Internationally and domestically relevant in such diverse areas as family law, adoption, migration, and socioeconomic policymaking, the best interests principle requires flexibility and is best served by a case-by-case approach, as has been recognized by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the European Court of Human Rights. This chapter analyzes relevant international case law and suggests the use of a number of safeguards to prevent such requisite flexibility from presenting a danger of paternalism, bias, or misuse.

scholarly journals The Enforcement of the Payment of Lobolo and its Impact On Children’s Rights in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 404
Author(s):  
Nqobizwe Mvelo Ngema
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Family Violence ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Main Issue ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Current Form ◽  
Maternal Grandfather ◽  
Custody Of Children

Various communities in South Africa practise the custom of lobolo (payment in kind or cash by a prospective husband or the head of his family to the head of the prospective wife’s family in consideration of a customary marriage). These communities may be divided into two groups, those practicing theleka (the withholding of a wife by her father or guardian from her husband to coerce him to pay the outstanding lobolo) and those that do not. In the communities practising theleka the amount of lobolo is not fixed and the father or guardian of the wife may from time to time theleka the wife and demand one to three head of cattle from his son-in-law. The wife and her children, if there are any, may be held by their maternal grandfather until the payment of lobolo has been met. The main issue this article examines is whether the custom of theleka impacts on the custody of children or not. It also examines the concept of the best interests of the child and finds that theleka custom in its current form does impact on the custody of the child and conflicts with the child’s best interests. The article suggests that theleka custom needs to be developed to conform to the Constitution. It also examines whether or not the custom of theleka constitutes abduction and family violence. The writer submits that it does not constitute abduction and family violence and advocates that theleka custom be allowed to continue.

scholarly journals Barnkonventionens implementering i svensk lagstiftning och praktik – barns bästa och barns rätt att uttrycka sina åsikter vid vårdnadstvister

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Rejmer ◽  
Ann-Sofie Bergman
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Data ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Custody Disputes ◽  
Good Contact

Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Swedish legislationand practice – children’s best interests and children’s rights to express their viewsin custody disputes: The article examines the implementation of articles 3 and 12 of the UN Convention on the Rightsof the Child (CRC) in the parental code regulations on custody, residence and access and how theyare applied in practice. The best interests of the child are, according to the regulations of the parentalcode, the superior principle in handling custody disputes, which includes an examination ofthe risk of abuse, the child’s need for close and good contact with both parents and the child’s will.The results of conducted empirical studies show that articles 3 and 12 of the CRC have not beenimplemented in the parental code. Children lack an independent right to express their opinionin the handling of custody disputes. The article is based on empirical data from sources of law,custody cases, and interviews with parents in dispute.

scholarly journals Cascading impacts of climate change and the rights of children in Africa: A reflection on the principle of intergenerational equity

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongedzayi Fambasayi ◽  
Michael Addaney
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Intergenerational Equity ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Rights Of The Child ◽  
Sustainable Future ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

SUMMARY This article explores the manner in which climate action at the African regional level protects and promotes children's rights with considerations being had to the principle of intergenerational equity. It establishes that while the concept of intergenerational equity is entrenched in the international and African regional climate change framework for the protection of children, neither the Convention on the Rights of the Child nor the African Children's Charter mentions the concept. However, CRC and the African Children's Charter oblige states to take into consideration the views of children and protect their best interests in climate action (to ensure intergenerational equity) and in achieving a sustainable future. Using a doctrinal research method, the article examines the regional legal and institutional responses to the cascading impacts of climate change and how they safeguard children's rights to a sustainable future. It proceeds to critically analyse child rights-responsive provisions in the African Children's Charter that could potentially enhance the utility of the principle of intergenerational equity in the context of climate action in Africa. The article argues that the principle of intergenerational equity could, in theory, be used as a useful tool for the protection and promotion of the rights and interests of children from climate change impacts. Key words: children's rights; climate change; climate justice; future generations; intergenerational equity

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