Rights of children

81 Rights of children (1) Every child. that is to say every boy and girl under the age of eighteen years, has the right — (a) to equal treatment before the law, including the right to be heard; (b) to be given a name and family name; (c) in the case of a child who ts— (1) born in Zimbabwe: or (ii) born outside Zimbabwe and ts a Zimbabwean citizen by descent; to the prompt provision of a birth certificate; (d) to family or parental care, or to appropriate care when removed from the family environment; (e) to be protected from economic and sexual exploitation, from child labour, and from maltreatment, neglect or any form of abuse; (f) to education, health care services, nutrition and shelter; (g) not to be recruited into a militia force or take part in armed conflict or hostilities: (h) not to be compelled to take part in any political activity; and , (i) not to be detained except as a measure of last resort and, if detained — (1) to be detained for the shortest appropriate period; (ti) to be kept separately {rom detained persons over the age of eighteen years; and (iii) to be treated in a manner, and kept in conditions, that take account of the child’s age. (2) A child’s best interests are paramount in every matter conceming the child. (3) Children are entitled to adequate protection by the courts, in particular by the High Court as their upper guardian.