As a result, the duty to respect parents might readilybe used to limit children’s rights to participate in decision-making, particularly inmatters affecting them.

Some of these cultural practices that may be used withinthe family are those tied to a “legitimate” cultural practice that is allowed andregulated by the law, and others that are not so legitimate and “harmful” to thechild. Male circumcision, which is common in South Africa, is an example of suchlegitimate cultural practice

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is a specificexample of “harmful” practices, which may hide under the canopy of the culturalvalue of “duty and rights” within the family. The above-mentioned culturalpractices are not only regarded as harmful, but they also violate the UNCRC’sArticle 12(1) provision on children’s participation rights in decision-making withinthe family.