A question of maturity: The participation, decision-making and rights of children in the context of HIV/AIDS

This article examines international, regional and national sources of law with respect to the rights of children and considers how a strict age of majority affects adolescents' access to health care. Using Rwanda as a case study, this article outlines how a high age of majority, combined with mandatory parental consent, creates barriers for Rwandan adolescents to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, learn their status and receive treatment for the disease. It further examines the relevant legal and policy framework of the Rwandan Government in order to suggest successful methods to gauge a child's maturity level for Rwanda and other countries. The article argues for the improvement of adolescents' level of participation in making health decisions, and thereby also increasing their access to HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) services.