The african charter.

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child was adopted at the 26th Conference of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity in July 1990. It entered into force November 29, 99, after receiving the ratification of 15 States, in accordance with Article 47.

It draws on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Declaration on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child, adopted by the OAU in July 1979 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Charter of the Organization of African Unity. While some rights declined in this charter are identical to those of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, most are interpreted in the African context.

Main provisions

The first chapter is devoted to rights and child protection

 This Convention applies to any child under 18 years and guarantees of rights "without distinction of race, ethnicity, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, 'national and social origin, property, birth or other status, and irrespective of the order for his or her parents or legal guardian (Article 3)

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child guarantees every child's inalienable right to life (Article 4), education (Article 11), recreation and culture (Article 12), protection against exploitation and abuse (labor, sexual exploitation ... sections 15, 26, 27, 29), health (Article 14).

It gives children the right of expression, association, freedom of thought (Articles 7 to 9) and protection of privacy (Article 10).

It protects children in armed conflicts. It prohibits enlistment in the army (Article 22) and protects them if they are refugees (article 23).

Several articles are devoted to the rights and responsibilities of families, considered "the natural unit and basis of society" (Article 18).

In Article 21, the Charter calls on states to "take all appropriate measures to abolish customs and negative practices, cultural and social that are detrimental to the welfare, dignity, growth and normal development children, particularly customs and practices prejudicial to health or life of the child. "If the term is not used, this article refers in particular to female circumcision. The charter also prohibits marriage of minors under 18 years.

Article 31 sets out the "responsibilities of the child to his family, society, state and other recognized communities and towards the international community."

The second chapter created an African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to the Organization of African Unity and defined its composition. Its mandate and operating procedures are described in Chapter 3. In the fourth chapter describes in particular the ratification procedures and to amend this charter.

Countries that have ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child   

Country: date of ratification (or signature)

  South Africa: 07/01/2000    Algeria: 08/07/2003    Angola: 11/04/1992    Benin: 17/04/1997    Botswana: 10/07/2001    Burkina Faso: 08/06/1992    Burundi: 2 06/08/2004    Cameroon: 05/09/1997    Central African Republic: 04.02.2003 (Signature)    Cape Verde: 20/07/1993    Chad: 30/03/2000    Côte d'Ivoire: 27/02/2004 (signature)    Comoros: 18/03/2004    Democratic Republic of Congo    Republic of Congo: 02/28/1992 (signature)    Djibouti: 02/28/1992 (signature)    Egypt: 09/05/2001    Equatorial Guinea: 20/12/2002    Eritrea: 22/12/1999    Ethiopia: 02/10/2002    Gabon: 02/27/1992 (signature)    Gambia: 14/12/2000    Ghana: 08.18.1997 (Signature)    Guinea-Bissau: 08/03/2005 (signature)    Guinea: 27/05/1999    Kenya 25/07/2000    Libya: 23/09/2000    Lesotho: 27/09/1999    Liberia: 05.14.1992 (Signature)    Madagascar: 27/02/1992    Mali: 03/06/1998    Malawi: 16/09/1999    Mozambique: 15/07/1998    Mauritania: Ratification year (April 2005)    Mauritius: 14/02/1992    Namibia: 23/07/2004    Nigeria: 23/07/2001    Niger: 11/12/1999    Uganda: 17/08/1994    Rwanda: 11/05/2001    Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic: 10.23.1992 (Signature)    Sénégal: 29/09/1998    Seychelles: 13/02/1992    Sierra Leone: 13/05/2002    01/06/1991 Somalia (signature)    Sao Tome and Principe    Sudan    Swaziland: 29/06/1992 (signature)    Tanzania: 16/03/2003    Togo: 05/05/1998    Tunisia: 06/16/1995 (signature)    Zambia: 02/28/1992 (signature)    Zimbabwe: 19/01/1995