particular care with regard to health, physical, mental, moral and social development, and
requires legal protection in conditions of freedom, dignity and security,
Taking into consideration the virtues of their cultural heritage, historical background and the
values of the African civilization which should inspire and characterize their reflection on
the concept of the rights and welfare of the child, CONSIDERING that the promotion and
protection of the rights and welfare of the child also implies the performance of duties on
the part of everyone,
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 theUnited 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
ARTICLE 1: OBLIGATION OF STATES PARTIES
1. Member States of the Organization of African Unity Parties to the present Charter shall
recognize the rights, freedoms and duties enshrined in this Charter and shall undertake
to the necessary steps, in accordance with their Constitutional processes and with the
provisions of the present Charter, to adopt such legislative or other measures as may be
necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Charter.
2. Nothing in this Charter shall affect any provisions that are more conductive to the
realization of the rights and welfare of the child contained in the law of a State Party or
in any other international Convention or agreement in force in that State.
3. Any custom, tradition, cultural or religious practice that is inconsistent with the rights,
duties and obligations contained in the present Charter shall to the extent of such
inconsistency be discouraged.