Building bridges: African customary family law and children’s rights

Abstract

This paper will focus on the rights of the family, parental responsibilities and rights and children’s rights in the context of African customary law. South Africa has gone a long way in safeguarding various rights of children in the Constitution and the principle of the paramountcy of the best interests of the child is firmly established. The main objective of this paper is to consider the impact of customary family law and practices on children’s rights, and vice versa. This paper will furthermore embark on developing guidelines to balance fundamental rights while protecting the rights of children in Africa.