African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights facts for kids

The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights is an important agreement that helps protect the rights of people in Africa. It's like a rulebook for how governments should treat their citizens and how people should treat each other. This agreement was made by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on July 27, 1981. The OAU is now called the African Union.

This Charter agrees with the rules set out in the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These are big global agreements about human rights.

Why was the Charter created?

The African Charter was created to make sure everyone in Africa is treated fairly. It speaks out against things that take away people's rights. For example, it condemns:

• Apartheid: This was a system in South Africa where people were treated differently and unfairly because of their race.
• Colonialism: This is when one country takes control of another country and its people.
• Neocolonialism: This is a newer form of control, where powerful countries might still influence weaker ones, often through economic means.
• Zionism: This refers to a political movement that has been seen by some as causing harm to the rights of people.

The Charter says these actions are wrong because they violate basic human rights.

What rights does the Charter protect?

Unlike some other human rights agreements, the African Charter protects many different kinds of rights. It includes:

• Economic, social, and cultural rights: These are rights like having a job, getting an education, and being able to take part in your culture.
• Civil rights: These are rights that protect your freedom, like the right to speak freely or to be treated equally by the law.

It also protects other important rights, such as:

• The right for people to decide their own future (called self-determination).
• The right to fair economic development.
• The right to control and benefit from your country's natural resources.
• The right to live in a good and healthy environment.

Reverences

Other page

• African Union
• International human rights law

See also

In Spanish: Carta Africana de Derechos Humanos y de los Pueblos para niños