Access To Justice Of Children's Right In Civil Matter, A Critical Analysis Of Legal Representation In Uganda

TABLE OJ< CONTENTS

DECLARATION ...................................................................................................................................... i

APPROV AL. ...............•.............................................••................................................................................. .ii

DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................................... i'

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................................. '

CHAPTER ONE ......................................................................................................................................... !

I. I Background ............................................................................................................................................. I

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................................... 7

I .4 l.iterature revieV ..................................................................................................................................... 7

I .5 Research methodology .......................................................................................................................... 10

1.6 Limitation of the study .......................................................................................................................... IO

I. 7 Ch etYiew of Chapter ............................................................................................................................. ! 0

CHAPTER TWO ...................................................................................................................................... 12

THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON THE RIGHl'S OF THE

CHILD ........................................................................................................................................................ 12

2.1 lntrocluction ........................................................................................................................................... l2

2.2 J)c•llning a child ..................................................................................................................................... l3

2.3 General principles of chi lei's rights: Focus on the best interests of the child ...................................... I 5

2.3.1 The right to non-discrimination .......................................................................................................... IS

2.3.2 The best interests ofthe child ............................................................................................................. l6

2.3.3 The right to life. survival and development ....................................................................................... 19

2.3.4 Right to express views and to be heard .............................................................................................. 19

2.5.1 The Status of International Human Rights Treaties in Rwandan Domestic Legal System ................ 24

2.5.2 International treaties on Juvenile Justice that have been ratified ....................................................... 25

2.5.3 National legislation ............................................................................................................................ 29

vii

CHAPTER THREE .................................................................................................................................. 31

ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR MINORS IN UGANDA .......................................................................... 31

3.1 lntrocluction ........................................................................................................................................... 3!

3.2 C'rin1inal procedure and legal assistance .......•.............................................•.•....................................... 32

3.3 C'ivil procedure and legal assistance ..................................................................................................... 35

3.3.1 Legal representation and the Institution of legal proceedings ............................................................ 36

3 .3.2 Jurisprudence on the institution of legal proceedings ....................................................................... 37

3.3.2 Legal representation in pleading and execution ofjudgements ......................................................... 39

3.3.Jlmpacts of Existing Legal Procedure on Access to Justice in Civil Matters ...................................... 40

3.4 Critical analysis of opportunities and challenges to the protection of the rights of the child ............... 43

CIIAPTER FOUR ..................................................................................................................................... 45

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................. 45

·1.1 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................... 45

·1.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................................................. 46

4.2.1 Government and national institutions ................................................................................................ 46

4.2.2 Public at large ..................................................................................................................................... 48

-1.2.3 Treaty bodies ...................................................................................................................................... 48

~1.2.~1 (~ivil society organizations and itnernational organizations ............................................................... 48

BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................... , .............................................................................. 50