2. African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990)

(Adopted by the African Member States of the Organization of African Unity, 11 July 1990)

PREAMBLE

The African Member States of the Organization of African Unity, Parties to the present Charter entitled 'African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child',

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RECOGNIZING that the child, due to the needs of his physical and mental development requires particular care with regard to health, physical, mental, moral and social development, and requires legal protection in conditions of freedom, dignity and security,

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REAFFIRMING ADHERENCE to the principles of the rights and welfare of the child contained in the declaration, conventions and other instruments of the Organization of African Unity and in the United Nations and in particular the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the OAU Heads of State and Government's Declaration on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child.

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

PART 1: RIGHTS AND DUTIES

CHAPTER ONE: RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD

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Article 11: Education

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2. The education of the child shall be directed to:

(a) promotion and development of the child’s personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential;

(b) fostering respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms with particular reference to those set out in the provisions of various African instruments on human and peoples’ rights and international rights declarations and conventions;

(c) the preservation and strengthening of positive African morals traditional values and cultures;

(d) the preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, tolerance, dialogue, mutual respect and friendship among all peoples and ethnic, tribal and religious groups;

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PART 11

CHAPTER TWO: ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD

Article 32: The Committee

An African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child hereinafter called “the Committee” shall be established within the Organization of African Unity to promote and protect the rights and welfare of the child.

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CHAPTER THREE: MANDATE AND PROCEDURE OF THE COMMITTEE

Article 42: The Mandate

The functions of the Committee shall be:

(a) To promote and protect the rights enshrined in this Charter and in particular to:

(i) collect and document information, commission inter-disciplinary assessment of situations on African problems in the fields of the rights and welfare of the child, organize meetings, encourage national and local institutions concerned with the rights and welfare of the child, and where necessary give its views and make recommendations to Governments;

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(iii) cooperate with other African, international and regional institutions and organizations concerned with the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of the child;

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