The Impact of legislation on childhood sexuality in South Africa

The purpose of this submission is two-fold. Firstly, it undertakes a socio-legal analysis of child sexuality and sexual behaviour. The goal of the analysis is to confront, albeit synoptically, common-held misperceptions, both legally and socially, on the subject of childhood sexuality. Secondly, the submission considers how legislation and judicial interpretation has responded to the expression of a child’s sexuality in South Africa. The legal and judicial analysis is centred on the categorization of age, and queries the wisdom of confining normal, non-deviant sexual development in terms of disparate age classifications as expressed in South African LegislationCollege of Graduate Studie

Dying to starve: A comparative analysis of legal aspects relating to consent in force-feeding of both minor and adult anorexic patients

The authors explore the legal complexities surrounding the force-feeding of anorexic patients. Due to the myriad of difficulties relating to anorexia nervosa, treatment is intricate. The aim of this exposition is to clarify legal issues of consent and self-determination, with regard to both adult and minor patients. In addition, the distinction between ‘irrational’ and ‘incompetent’ refusal will be discussed, with the authors maintaining that the ‘irrational’ refusal of an adult patient should be respected by the law. To come to an informed conclusion, the authors will first analyse the medical and psychological aspects of anorexia nervosa. Secondly, the South African position as shaped by the Mental Health Care Act, the Children’s Act and the National Health Act will be contrasted with the position in Great Britain in order to determine the international perspective and its contrast, or not, to South African law.Sterf deur verhongering: ’n Vergelykende ontleding van die wetlike aspekte van toestemming in gedwonge voeding van beide minderjarige en volwasse anoreksiese pasiënteDie outeurs ondersoek hoe ingewikkeld die wetlike aspekte van gedwonge voeding van anoreksiese pasiente is. Die problematiek rondom anorexia nervosa bemoeilik die behandeling daarvan. Die oogmerk van hierdie bespreking is om helderheid te bied ten opsigte van die regsaspekte van toestemming en selfbeskikking by kinders en volwasse pasiente. Voorts sal die verskil tussen irrasionele en onbevoegde weiering van toestemming tot behandeling bespreek word. Die outeurs is van mening dat irrasionele weiering deur ’n volwassene deur die reg gerespekteer moet word. Ten einde ’n ingeligte gevolgtrekking te kan maak, sal die outeurs eerstens die geneeskundige en psigologiese aspekte van anorexia nervosa, ontleed. Bykomend daartoe sal die Mental Health Care Act, die Childrens’ Act en die National Health Act van Suid-Afrika vergelyk word met soortgelyke wetgewing in Groot-Brittanje om internasionale perspektiewe te bepaal

Geregtelike en wetgewende reaksies op seksuele misdade deur en teen kinders in Suid-Afrikaen die potensiële gebruik van herstellendegeregtigheidspraktyke

This contribution explores the judicial and legislative responses to sexual offences committed by, and against children. It premises its content against the contextual background of sexual offending in South Africa, and argues that traditional punitive responses to various forms of sexual crime are ineffective. It further postulates that the current status quo, at least insofar as child offences are concerned, goes against the grain of restorative justice. The authors argue that South Africa cannot simply apply either retributive or restorative justice to crimes of this nature but rather that the approaches can be blended as part of a multi-disciplinary approach to children who commit sexual offences, and children who are the victims of such offences. The submission argues for the use of restorative justice practices, primarily victim-offender mediation, where suitable on the merits.College of Graduate Studie