Why the ACDP voted against Children's Bill
Cheryllyn Dudley, MP

Certain reports in the media regarding the Children’s Bill have not accurately explained why the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) is the only party to vote against the Bill.

We would like to have supported the Children’s Bill which, for the first time in South Africa, criminalizes child trafficking. Obviously, urgent implementation of trafficking legislation is necessary to put a stop to sex tourism in South Africa which has been allowed to violate our children. While the Bill contains these and other important measures including a National Child Protection Register and the prohibition of genital mutilation of girls, other clauses give rise to serious concerns and the ACDP believes they increase the vulnerability of our children. Below are a few points to illustrate our concerns;

- The lowering of the age of consent to 12 years with regard to medical and surgical treatment places an unfair burden on children and makes them extremely vulnerable.
- Termination of pregnancy without parental consent at 12-year- old has been an accepted practice since the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act and the Children’s Act now simply further legalizes this shocking reality. <br>
- The Children’s Act also legalizes and promotes provision of contraceptives to 12 year olds. This is unacceptable. <br>

In the UK, a 14 year study into underage pregnancy questioned the effectiveness of policies which increase easy availability of contraceptives for children under 16. An increase in access to family planning clinics did not decrease pregnancy rates but in fact increased them in some instances as it encouraged children to be sexually active, plus a high contraceptive failure rate adds to the problem.

In addition, protection is provided in the Act for surrogate mothers who chose to abort their unborn children regardless of the fact that loving parents and a loving home await the arrival of the child. The fact that the law in South Africa does not recognise an unborn child as a human being despite scientific proof to the contrary, allows for babies to be terminated for any reason without any fear of facing murder charges. Doctors presently facilitating illegal abortions exceeding even 20 weeks gestation are seemingly proceeding with immunity and literally getting away with murder.

The Act has therefore been seriously compromised and these clauses undermine any positive impact it may otherwise have had in protecting our children. On these grounds the ACDP had no option but to vote against it.