Mapping Children on the Move within Africa
spaces has an impact on access to sexual and reproductive health services. Also, financial and
language barriers also lead to exclusion from accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
This is because in absence of financial capacity one cannot afford medical services. In situation
where a child or their guardian does not understand a particular language that is used by health
service providers access to health services, and particularly sexual and reproductive health
services becomes challenges. Therefore structural, social and financial barriers pose a challenge
to children on the move to access sexual and reproductive health rights.
According to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in General Comment No.4 states in
light of Article 24 and 3 of the CRC should provide adolescents with access to sexual reproductive
information, including on family and contraceptives, dangers of early pregnancy as well as the
prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.487 Therefore, states should provide
children on the move, both boys and girls, with access to sexual and reproductive health
information. This is more critical because the inherent nature of irregular migration exposes the
children to risks such as rape and sexual abuse which necessitate access to reproductive health
services.
487
CRC General Comment No. 4: adolescent health and development in the context of the Convention on
the Rights of the Child, 2003 para 28.
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