Conventional wisdom holds that constitutions shape behavior, structures, and institutions. Looking at provisions in the constitutions of 19 Latin American countries, I show the level of judicial independence exercised by a country’s courts and judges is a function of constitutional provisions.

Text in Afrikaans / lnternasionale erkenning van die konsep van kinderregte skep die grondslag vir state om op nasionale vlak inisiatiewe te loads wat op die kweek van 'n kinderregtekultuur gerig is, wat sal meebring dat 'n sensitiwiteit vir kinderregte ontwikkel en prioriteit aan die beskerming van daardie regte verleen word. Dit is 'n omvattende taak wat grondwetlike bepalings raak en wetgewing en administratiewe programme vereis ten einde 'n balans te vind tussen ouers se aansprake op gesinsoutonomie en die strewe om in gepaste gevalle aan kinders die bevoegdheid te verleen om self besluite oar hul lewens te neem. Die belangeatweging vind plaas teen die agtergrond van die primere oorweging van die beste belange van kinders ten opsigte van aspekte wat hulle raak . . / International recognition of the concept of children's rights lays the foundation for states to launch initiatives on national level which are aimed at developing a culture of children's rights. This will lead to an increased sensitivity to children's rights and the fact that priority will be given to the protection of those rights. It is a wide·ranging task which affects constitutional provisions and requires legislation and administrative programmes in order to strike a balance between parents' claims to the autonomy of the family and the attempt to enable children, in suitable instances, to make decisions about their lives themselves. This weighing up of interests takes place against the background of the primary consideration of the best interests of children with respect to aspects which affect them. / Constitutional, International and Indigenous Law / (LL.M)

Text in Afrikaans / lnternasionale erkenning van die konsep van kinderregte skep die grondslag vir state om op nasionale vlak inisiatiewe te loads wat op die kweek van 'n kinderregtekultuur gerig is, wat sal meebring dat 'n sensitiwiteit vir kinderregte ontwikkel en prioriteit aan die beskerming van daardie regte verleen word. Dit is 'n omvattende taak wat grondwetlike bepalings raak en wetgewing en administratiewe programme vereis ten einde 'n balans te vind tussen ouers se aansprake op gesinsoutonomie en die strewe om in gepaste gevalle aan kinders die bevoegdheid te verleen om self besluite oar hul lewens te neem. Die belangeatweging vind plaas teen die agtergrond van die primere oorweging van die beste belange van kinders ten opsigte van aspekte wat hulle raak . . / International recognition of the concept of children's rights lays the foundation for states to launch initiatives on national level which are aimed at developing a culture of children's rights. This will lead to an increased sensitivity to children's rights and the fact that priority will be given to the protection of those rights. It is a wide·ranging task which affects constitutional provisions and requires legislation and administrative programmes in order to strike a balance between parents' claims to the autonomy of the family and the attempt to enable children, in suitable instances, to make decisions about their lives themselves. This weighing up of interests takes place against the background of the primary consideration of the best interests of children with respect to aspects which affect them. / Constitutional, International and Indigenous Law / (LL.M)