Protecting children from harmful practices in plural legal systems with a special emphasis on Africa

Millions of children continue to suffer from various forms of harmful practices, such as female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage, female infanticide, bonded labour and accusations of witchcraft. The UN Study on Violence against Children urged states to prohibit by law all forms of violence against children, including harmful practices. This report reviews positive legislative developments in different regions of the world, with a special emphasis on Africa, to strengthen children’s legal protection from violence as a result of harmful practices, and addresses the interplay between statutory, customary and religious laws. The report was informed by an international expert consultation held in June 2012, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.