Families and inclusive societies in Africa

Abstract

The African family charters unambiguously recognize the family institution as a foundation of society. This is in line with the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) guiding principles, which recognized the family as the basic unit of society, and thus societies are encouraged to strengthen this institution. The African Charter on Human and People's Rights as well as other regional and country specific charters also endorses the family as the natural unit, foundational basis and pillar of society. The African Charter further urges states to take care of family health and morale. Although in the African charters there is a call for recognition of traits that have always been associated with the traditional African family, the fact that families on the continent have diversified both in form and in their function, has also been acknowledged. It is thus important to begin by demonstrating how the notion of African family has evolved.