Constitution of Colombia

The Constitution of Colombia was adopted in 1991 and subsequently revised in 2015. Colombia’s constitution includes the following articles that are relevant to children:

• Article 44: “The following are basic rights of children: life, physical integrity, health and social security, a balanced diet, their name and citizenship, to have a family and not be separated from it, care and love, instruction and culture, recreation, and the free expression of their opinions. They shall be protected against all forms of abandonment, physical or moral violence, sequestration, sale, sexual abuse, work or economic exploitation, and dangerous work. They shall also enjoy other rights upheld in the Constitution, the laws, and international treaties ratified by Colombia. The family, society, and the State have the obligation to assist and protect children in order to guarantee their harmonious and integral development and the full exercise of their rights. Any individual may request from the competent authority the enforcement of these rights and the sanctioning of those who violate them. The rights of children take precedence over the rights of others.
• Article 45: “The adolescent is entitled to protection and integral development. The State and society guarantee the active participation of adolescents in public and private organs that are responsible for the protection, education, and progress of the youth.”
• Article 46: “The State, society, and the family shall all participate in protecting and assisting individuals in the third age bracket and shall promote their integration into active and community life. The State shall guarantee to them services of integral social security and food subsidies in cases of indigence.