Abstract

MAHADEW, Roopanand. The Children's Bill of Mauritius: A critical assessment of key aspects. Afr. hum. rights law j. [online]. 2020, vol.20, n.2, pp.852-872. ISSN 1996-2096.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/1996-2096/2020/v20n2a122.

This article critically assesses the Children's Bill that has been presented as a law that will revolutionise the sphere of children's rights in Mauritius. It is set to replace the Child Protection Act which was way below the required international standard for children's rights. Essential aspects of the Bill are reviewed by using as barometers the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Some of the aspects explored are the principle of the best interests of the child, the protection of the child, the child as a juvenile offender and the Children's Court. The article also compares the Bill to the previous Child Protection Act to evaluate the efficacy of the changes brought about by the Bill.

Keywords : children's rights; Mauritius; Children's Bill; Children's Court.

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