Constitution denies children explicit right to express themselvesWhile South African law strongly advocates protecting children, a new study by the University of Cape Town (UCT) has found that the Constitution does not explicitly give children the right to be heard in matters that affect them. Judges have to “read this in” through other rights like dignity, equality, and rights to representation, but it’s not the same as having a clear, express right. This gap makes it harder for children’s voices to carry proper weight in family law decisions, according to Dr Sharna-Lee Clarke’s groundbreaking findings for her PhD in Public Law. “When courts make decisions about children without hearing from the children themselves, the outcomes can feel imposed rather than just,” she continues. She has always been passionate about children’s rights and the rights of vulnerable groups.