Abstract
M.Ed. (Educational Psychology)
The Constitution of South Africa and its Bill of Rights places a lot of
emphasis and importance on the Rights of children. This is further
emphasized by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which
states that every child has the inherent right to life, and the State shall
ensure, to the maximum, child survival and development. Beside the
State, the parents also have the primary responsibility for a child's
upbringing (UN Convention, 1998).
The South African constitution is regarded as one of the best in the world.
The process was consultative and the constitution is the supreme law of
the country. Among other things, the constitution ensures that all citizens
are equally entitled to the rights, privileges and benefits of citizenship. This
includes the children who are protected by the Bill of Rights. The Bill of
Rights enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the
democratic values of human dignity, equality, and freedom (Act 108 of
1996: chapter 2).