TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................... i
LIST OF ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................... iii
LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES AND MAPS ..................................................................... viii
LIST OF ANNEXES ......................................................................................................... ix
PART ONE : GENERAL CONTEXT OF THE COUNTRY ............................................... 1
1. Geographic situation.............................................................................................. 1
2. Climate and vegetation .......................................................................................... 1
3. Administrative subdivision ..................................................................................... 1
4. Demographic situation ........................................................................................... 3
5. Economic, social and cultural contexts .................................................................. 3
a. Economic indicators ...................................................................................................... 3
b. Social indicators ............................................................................................................ 4
c. Malagasy cultural policy .............................................................................................. 12
6. Political information ............................................................................................. 12
7. Constitutionnal evolution ..................................................................................... 14
PART TWO : IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLES OF THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON
THE RIGHTS AND WELFARE OF THE CHILD ............................................................ 15
1. Introduction.......................................................................................................... 15
a. Obligation of Member States (Article 1) ...................................................................... 15
b. Report preparation process ........................................................................................ 16
2. General measures of implementation .................................................................. 17
c. The Constitution .......................................................................................................... 17
d. Discourage cultural practices which are incompatible with the Charter ...................... 18
e. National mechanisms for the respect of children’s rights ............................................ 18
f. Popularisation of international instruments ................................................................. 19
3. Definition of the Child .......................................................................................... 19
4. General principles................................................................................................ 20
a. Non-discrimination ..................................................................................................... 20
b. Best interests of the child (Article 4) ........................................................................... 22
c. The right to life (Article 5) ............................................................................................ 22
5. Civil rights and freedoms ..................................................................................... 23
a. Name and nationality .................................................................................................. 23
b. Freedom of expression................................................................................................ 25
c. Freedom of association ............................................................................................... 26
d. Freedom of thought, conscience and religion ............................................................. 26
e. Protection of privacy ................................................................................................... 26
f. Protecting children against abuse and mistreatment ................................................... 27
6. Family environment and alternative care ............................................................. 31
a. Parental responsibility (articles 20 and 20.1) ............................................................... 31
b. Separation from parents (articles 19.2 and 3 and 25) .................................................. 32
c. Family reunification and children deprived of family environment (Art 25.2. a) ........... 33
d. Protection of the child (Art 18.3) ................................................................................. 34
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