The Child Care, Protection, and Justice Act regulates the care and protection of children, including regulation of: the responsibilities and rights of parents; the role of local authorities; prohibiting harmful practices; procedures when children are accused of crimes; establishment of a child justice court system; and general child welfare. Under Section 78, no child can be taken without the consent of a parent of custodial figure. Punishment for such a crime is up to 10 years imprisonment. Under Section 79, child trafficking for any sort of exploitation is prohibited, and can be punished by up to lifetime imprisonment. Section 80 protects children from social and customary practices that are “harmful to the health or general development of the child,” but does not explicitly ban female genital mutilation or cutting. Under Section 82, no child can be sold as security, or engage in labor to provide income. Additionally, children cannot be forced into marriage or betrothal under Section 81. Violations of Sections 80-82 carry a 10-year prison sentence. Under any of these situations listed above (Sections 78-82), a social welfare officer can remove and place the child in a safe environment awaiting the decision of the child justice court. Sections 89-131 outline procedures for, and rights of, children suspected or accused of crimes. Sections 132-134 establish Child Justice Courts, which are magistrates courts subordinate to the High Court with jurisdiction over children’s matters.
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