Last edited: February 2005
Summary and Analysis
Seychelles acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in September of 1990 with no reservations. Currently, Article 12 of the Convention has not been implemented in the public policy of Seychelles while the informal system in Seychelles contains some parallels to the requirements of Article 12 of the CRC. Similarly, Seychelles ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC); however, Seychelles is yet to implement the protocols of the ACRWC into its public policy. Neither convention carries the force of law.
Seychelles implements an informal system in which both governmental and non-governmental agencies work to see that child protection is carried out in the best interests of the child. Some of those agencies include the National Council for Children, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, and the Judiciary System. While no statutes currently mold the rules of practice in Seychelles, some general rules have become rather solid in the information system. Firstly, children may represent themselves in court with the age of approximately 10 years being the threshold for the child to be able to represent himself or herself. Secondly, children are allowed to give evidence via video link when travel is too difficult or circumstances in the case merit that the child not be in the courtroom during the trial. Also, Seychelles maintains a tribunal system, which is less formal than the court system; however, many non-governmental agencies offer counsel to and operate in both the court system and the tribunal system. The tribunal system also offers some flexibility for the child to represent their own interests with a similar age threshold as that of the court system.
Sources of Law (In Order of Authority)
Currently, Seychelles has no statutes regarding the representation of children in the court system.
Local Contact Information
Jean Claude Matombe
National Council for Children
National Council for Children - http://www.seychelles.net/ncc/
Virtual Seychelles - http://www.virtualseychelles.sc/
U.S. Dept of State Report, Seychelles - http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41624.htm
Representing Children Worldwide | Copyright 2005 Yale Law School |All Rights Reserved