Includes CD

Thesis (MA) - CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF GRADUATE STUDIES AND RESEARCH International Relations Department

Includes BIBLIOGRAPHY: sheets 49-53

ABSTRACT This research seeks to determine the relationship between political instability and human rights specifically children in Zimbabwe and Sudan. Although literature has been shared about effects of political violence on human rights this study seeks to emphasise on children as there seems to be a gap on their infringement of rights by political violence. Because of the political instability obtained in Zimbabwe and Sudan, human rights have been largely violated by both participants in the conflict although such violations differ in degree and significance. The states which are supposed to be the protectors of such rights have not aided the situation either but rather worsened it through their own acts of omission and commission. It is children who experience the harshest and the most permanent effects of political violence. The Greedy versus Grievance Theory of Hoffler and Collier was used to conceptualise political instability. The precise aims of this research were to reveal how political instability in Africa affects enjoyment of children's rights, to examine and unpack the challenges faced by African children owing to instability and to give recommendations on how African children's rights can be upheld even during instability. The study was practically significant because it offered on the two countries in specific as well as African countries in general on how they could improve on their obligation to protect child rights and as well as guarantee them. The study reviewed the effects of political instability on the enjoyment of child rights which amongst them were deprivation of basic rights as shelter, food, clean water, health, sexual integrity as well as forced recruitment into child soldiers. From the results of the study, it was summed that political instability is a major stumbling block in the enjoyment and protection of rights particularly children. Keywords: political instability, human rights, children rights, government, violations