Although the concept of human rights for all has
been gradually accepted worldwide, there
is still some controversy around the idea of rights
for children. The South African Constitution not
only recognises the fact that children are capable
of being bearers of human rights but emphasises also
their special position in society by granting them
specific rights. In this thesis the entitlements and
obligations attached to children s health service
rights are explored with a particular focus on the
extent to which these rights are respected in light
of consent laws. The uniqeness of the relationship
between consent laws and children s health rights
becomes more apparent when one investigates the
impact of legislative ages of consent on those
children who are below the age of consent. This
thesis will analyse the impact of consent
provisions on children and the use of ages of
consent with a focus on the new Children s Act. The
analysis aims to create awareness of the impact of
consent laws on children s health rights for those
responsible for protecting these rights through
legislation and others responsible for doing so in
any other capacity.
been gradually accepted worldwide, there
is still some controversy around the idea of rights
for children. The South African Constitution not
only recognises the fact that children are capable
of being bearers of human rights but emphasises also
their special position in society by granting them
specific rights. In this thesis the entitlements and
obligations attached to children s health service
rights are explored with a particular focus on the
extent to which these rights are respected in light
of consent laws. The uniqeness of the relationship
between consent laws and children s health rights
becomes more apparent when one investigates the
impact of legislative ages of consent on those
children who are below the age of consent. This
thesis will analyse the impact of consent
provisions on children and the use of ages of
consent with a focus on the new Children s Act. The
analysis aims to create awareness of the impact of
consent laws on children s health rights for those
responsible for protecting these rights through
legislation and others responsible for doing so in
any other capacity.