Congo-Brazzaville

Congo-Brazzaville[1] [print]

Last edited: May 2006

Summary and Analysis

Congo-Brazzaville (“Congo”) ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on October 14, 1993. The Convention is authoritative law in Congo, because Congo’s constitution gives precedence to duly-ratified international treaties.  The ratification of a treaty requires and signifies its compatibility with the principles of the Constitution.

Congo’s constitution “guarantees” the rights of the mother and the child. Congo’s Family Code was passed on October 17, 1984. Despite our efforts, we have been unable to locate the text of the family code.  We have also been unable to obtain any third-party reporting on the contents of the family code. However, Congo’s April 6, 2006 report to the United Nations does provide some clues to the status of Article 12.[2] Paragraph 167 of the report acknowledges that Article 12 recommends that children have the possibility of being heard in all matters affecting them, either directly or by a representative. Paragraph 168 discusses Congo’s establishment of a Children’s Parliament, where child representatives are able to freely express their views-but there is no further mention of Article 12 rights in the remainder of the report, perhaps indicating that the Children’s Parliament represents the extent of Congo’s compliance with Article 12.

Despite our efforts, we were unable to locate a contact person for Congo-Brazzaville.

Sources of Law (In Order of Authority)

Original Text

International Law

Convention relative aux droits de l’enfant, [3] ratified October 14, 1993.

Article 12.

1. Les Etats parties garantissent à l’enfant qui est capable de discernement le droit d’exprimer librement son opinion sur toute question l’intéressant, les opinions de l’enfant étant dûment prises en considération eu égard à son âge et à son degré de maturité.

2. A cette fin, on donnera notamment à l’enfant la possibilité d’être entendu dans toute procédure judiciaire ou administrative l’intéressant, soit directement, soit par l’intermédiaire d’un représentant ou d’une organisation approprié, de façon compatible avec les règles de procédure de la législation nationale.

Constitution

Constitution de la Republique du Congo[4]

Article 31

.

Les droits de la mère et de l’enfant sont garantis.
 

Statutes

Loi n°037/84 du 17 octobre 1984 portant Code de la famille

We have been unable to locate the text of the Congo Family Code.

Translation

International Law

Convention on the Rights of the Child,[5]  ratified October 14, 1993.

Article 12

1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.

Constitution

Congo Constitution[6]

Article 31.

.

The rights of the mother and the child are guaranteed.

Statutes

Congo Family Code

We have been unable to locate the text of the Congo Family Code.

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