PART III
Articles 27 to 29: Duties
370. It shall be the duty of the State to guarantee the fundamental rights of the
community with the cooperation of its members. Articles 55 and 56 of the
Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique allude to family as the basis of
society. That is to say that the fundamental principles for developing social
relations based on respect for the dignity of the human person derived from the
family.
371.In keeping with the duty of the State to guarantee individual freedoms and
respect for the rights of others as well as ensuring collective security, the
Mozambique State recently approved Law № 10/2004 of 25 August (the Family
Law). The Law aims at harmonizing the country’s social and cultural situation
with the Constitution and other international legal instruments, thereby doing
away with provisions which accord unequal treatment insofar as family relations
and respect for Mozambican identity are concerned.
372.In line with the principle that women form part of family units, Article 57 of the
Constitution says the State shall promote and support the emancipation of women
and encourage the increasing role that they should play in society.
373.As members of society, individuals shall have the duty to respect and regard their
fellow human beings without discrimination, and to strengthen respect and
mutual tolerance. This is one of the fundamental principles of a democratic State
as important as the principle of equality before the law, the right not to be
discriminated against, the rule of law, and other fundamental freedoms.
374.In the Republic of Mozambique this duty is enshrined in Articles 6, 53, 96 and
106 of the Constitution, which provide for the defense and promotion of human
rights, equality before the law, the construction of a society based on social
justice where individual freedoms may only be temporarily suspended in
accordance with the law.
375.Individuals shall have supplementary obligations towards the community as
provided for in Article 69 of the Constitution which penalizes any action
attempting on national unity, and Article 73 whereby individuals shall have the
duty to take part in the process of broadening and strengthening democracy.
376.Article 84 of the Constitution says every Mozambican national shall have the
duty to take part in the defense of independence, sovereignty and territorial
integrity as provided for in Article 29(3) of the Charter.
377.Article 29(7) of the Charter refers to work. Similarly, Article 88 of the
Mozambique Constitution says work shall be a right and duty of every citizen.
The principle of national unity arising from № 4 of the Charter, is alluded to in
Article 85 of the Mozambique Constitution according to which it shall be the
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