Central African Republic Constitution: 1994

The 1994 constitution of Central African Republic was adopted via constitutional referendum on December 28, 1994. Two articles hold particular relevance to children those being:

• Article 6: “Marriage and the family constitute the natural and moral basis of the human community. They are placed under the protection of the state. The state and the other public collectivities together have the duty to strive for the physical and moral health of the family and to socially encourage it by appropriate institutions. The protection of the youth against violence and insecurity, exploitation and moral, intellectual and physical abandonment is an obligation for the state and the other public collectivities. This protection is assured by appropriate measures and institutions of the state and the other public collectivities. Parents have the natural right and primordial duty to raise and educate their children with the end to develop in them good physical, intellectual and moral aptitudes. They are supported in this task by the state and the other public collectivities. Children born out of wedlock have the same rights to public assistance as legitimate children. Legally recognised natural children have the same rights as legitimate children. The state and the other public collectivities have the duty to create prerequisite conditions and public institutions which guarantee the education of children.”
• Article 7: “Everyone has the right to have access to the sources of knowledge. The Republic guarantees to children and adults access to instruction, to culture, and to professional training. The education and instruction of the youth must be provided for by public establishments. The creation of these are incumbent upon the state and the other public collectivities. Private establishments may be opened with the authorisation of the state. This is only accorded when these private establishments by their curriculum and their organisation, as well as the matter of the development of their instruction, fulfil sufficient conditions to dispense an instruction of a quality conforming with official programmes or authorised within the conditions fixed by a specific law. They are placed under the control of the state.