AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD
Adopted by the Twenty-sixth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of the OAU, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - July 1990.
The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in its Decision
Assembly/AU/Dec.548 (XXIV) has approved the amendment of Article 37 (1) of the African
Charter on the Rights and Welfare
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’,
Considering that the Charter of the Organization of African Unity recognizes the paramountcy
of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights proclaimed and
agreed that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed
therein, without distinction of any kind such as race, ethnic group, colour. sex, language,
religion, political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or other status,
Recalling the Declaration on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child (AHG/ST.4 Rev.l)
adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African
Unity, at its Sixteenth Ordinary Session in Monrovia, Liberia. from 17 to 20 July 1979,
recognized the need to take appropriate measures to promote and protect the rights and
welfare of the African Child,
Noting with concern that the situation of most African children, remains critical due to the
unique factors of their socio-economic, cultural, traditional and developmental circumstances,
natural disasters, armed conflicts, exploitation and hunger, and on account of the child’s
physical and mental immaturity he/she needs special safeguards and care,
Recognizing that the child occupies a unique and privileged position in the African society
and that for the full and harmonious development of his personality. the child should grow up
in a family environment in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,
Recognizing that the child, due to the needs of his physical and mental development requires