This Act, divided into eighteen parts, provides for defining rights and responsibilities of children, consolidating the laws relating to children, improving care, protection and maintenance of children, establishing a Children’s Court and administering a criminal justice system for children. The Act concerns: welfare principle, protection and care of children, rights of the children and particularly: right to survival and development, right to enjoy the best attainable state of physical and mental health, right to adequate diet according to the means of the parent, right to parental care and maintenance, special protection measures for children in need, right to social activities, right to education. Matters covered by this Act include: responsibilities of parents and children; prohibition of harmful social and customary practices affecting the welfare, dignity, normal growth and development of the child; offences concerning morality, seduction and illegal dealing concerning children; prohibition of exploitative child labour; minimum age for the light work; prohibition of hazardous works including: mining and quarrying, carrying of heavy loads, going to sea; apprenticeship and provision of food and a healthy environment; duty of the government to safe-guard children and promote reconciliation between parents and children; establishment of the children's court; care and protection of children.
Gambie · 2005-06-23