Prospects and challenges in eastern and southern Africa - the interplay between international human rights norms and domestic law, Welshman Ncube; the African cultural fingerprint? the changing concept of childhood, Welshman Ncube; domestic application of international human rights norms - protecting the rights of the girl-child in eastern and southern Africa, Bart Rwezaura; reconstructing the image of the girl-child, Janet Kabeberi-Macharia; the duty to hear the child - a view from Tanzania, Bart Rwezaura; the right of the child to participate in decision making - a perspective from Zambia, Chuma Himonga; consent and compensation - the sexual abuse of girls in Zimbabwe, alice himonga; revaluating law, tradition, custom and practice - custody and access to non-marital children in Zimbabwe, Welshman Ncube; custody and guardianship of children in Botswana - customary laws and judicial practice within the framework of the Children's Convention, Athaliah Molokome, Keletso Mokobi; the best interests of the child and child labour in Lesotho, Puleng Letuka; searching for a child centred adoption process - the law and practice in Uganda, Jennifer Okumu-Wengi; female genital mutilation and the rights of the girl-child in Kenya, Janet Kabeberi-Macharia; gender, norms, cultural values and the right to education - the example of three schools in Manhica District of Mozambique, Lucena Muianga; law, culture and children's rights in eastern and southern Africa - contemporary challenges and present-day dilemmas, Bart Rwezaura.