The responsibility of the Burundian child is stated in Article 63 of the Constitution "Every citizen
has duties towards the family and society, towards the State and other public authorities".
229. The child has, according to his age and his abilities and subject to the restrictions, pertaining to
his level of discernment, the duty to:
1. Respect all human beings, especially his/her parents, guardian or guardian, superiors and elderly
people in all circumstances and, if necessary, assist them;
2. Respect other children;
3. Respect one's identity, language, cultural and national values;
4. Respect the natural environment and work for its protection;
5. Respect the constitution and other laws of the Republic;
6. Work for the respect of human rights and the rights of the child;
7. Respect the reputation and honour of others;
8. Work for the cohesion of his/her family and for the good of the national and international
community by putting his/her physical and intellectual capacities at their disposal;
9. Work to safeguard public order, public health and morals;
10. To work for the preservation and strengthening of the solidarity of society and the nation;
11. Contribute to the best of his/her abilities, in all circumstances and at all levels, to the
promotion and realisation of national unity and African unity;
12. To love one's homeland. In the school programmes of the child, civic education programmes
are included to enable him/her to understand the merits of developing a patriotic feeling;
13. Follow the basic education provided by his/her parents and the state.51
230. At the level of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, two directorates have been set up
which work in the youth sector to help young people organise themselves into associations.
These are the Directorate of the Associative Movement of the Youth and that of the Economic
Integration of the Youth. The first aims to strengthen the organisational capacity of young
people and the second helps young people to get into the production circuits, by promoting
entrepreneurship, by proposing some strategic ways for self-management to be a reality.52
231. Most Burundian youth are supervised in Youth Associations spread throughout the
country, and they work towards guidance and promotion of self-care. In addition, the types of
associations are as diverse as their areas of intervention. Thus, we meet sporting and cultural
associations, charities, self-help associations, associations fighting against poverty, those
fighting AIDS, religious associations, etc.
51
Draft Code of Child Protection
52
Patriotic Education and Training Program in Burundi
50