A dutiful child: the implications of Article 31 of the African Children's Charter
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Date
2008
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Abstract
Each right
has a corresponding duty. The African Children's Charter, under article
31,
imposes
a range of duties on children. Understandably, it could become
contentious
when
an
instrument
on
the
rights
and
welfare
of children expressly
imposes
duties
on
them.
After
setting
the
platform
for discussion by highlighting
international
experiences
and
outlining
the
African
concept
of human rights, this
article
critically
examines
and
attempts
to clarify the precise meaning, content,
conditions
of compliance and application of those duties for children- By way of
conclusion,
it
suggests
that article 31 represents a valuable addition to the
international
human
rights
agenda,
and
that a purposeful interpretation of its
constituent
parts
reveals
that children should be required to play a role at family,
community,
national
and
continental
levels,
in
accordance
with their age and
maturity
as
they
grow
up,
as
part
and
parcel
of their heritage, empowerment and
developing
citizenship.
Description
Keywords
Children's rights, Duties, African Children's Charter
Citation
Sloth-Nielsen, J. & Mezmur, B. D. (2008). 'A dutiful child: the implications of Article 31 of the African Children's Charter'. Journal of African Law, 52 (2): 159-189