1.
American Convention on Human Rights (OAS 1969)
Article 17: (1) “The family is
the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to
protection by society and the state. (2) The right of men and women of
marriageable age to marry and to raise a family shall be recognized, if they
meet the conditions required by domestic laws...(4) In case of dissolution,
provision shall be made for the necessary protection of any children solely
on the basis of their own best interests.”
Article 18: “Every person has
the right to a given name and to the surnames of his parents or that of one
of them.”
Article 19: “Every minor child
has the right to the measures of protection required by his condition as a
minor on the part of his family, society, and the state.”
2. American Declaration on the Rights and Duties of Man (OAS 1948)
Article VI: “Every person has
the right to establish a family, the basic element of society, and to
receive protection therefore.”
3.
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the
Area of Economic, Social And Cultural Rights (OAS 1988)
Article
15: Right to the Formation and the Protection of Families.
1. "The family is
the natural and fundamental element of society and ought to be protected by
the State, which should see to the improvement of its spiritual and material
conditions."
4. International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (UN 1966)
Article 17: “No one shall be
subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family,
home.”
Article 23 (1): “The family is
the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to
protection by society and the State.”
Article 23(2): “The right of
men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found a family shall be
recognized.”
Article 23(4): “In the case of
dissolution [of marriage], provision shall be made for the necessary
protection of any children.”
5. International
Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN 1966)
Article 10(1): …“The States
Parties to the present Covenant recognize that: The widest possible
protection and assistance should be accorded to the family, which is the
natural and fundamental group unit of society”...
Article
10(3): “Special measures of protection and assistance should be taken on
behalf of all children and young persons without any discrimination for
reasons of parentage or other conditions.”
6. Convention on the
Rights of the Child (UN 1989)
Article 3(1): “In all actions
concerning children the best interest of the child shall be a primary
consideration.“
Article 5: “State Parties shall
respect the responsibilities, rights, and duties of parents or, where
applicable, the members of the extended family or community as provided for
by local custom, legal guardians or other persons legally responsible for
the child, to provide, in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities
of the child, appropriate direction and guidance in the exercise by the
child of the rights recognized the present Convention.”
7. Universal Declaration
of Human Rights (UN 1948)
Article 16(1)(3): “Men and
women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or
religion, have the right to marry and to found a family.
They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and
at its dissolution...The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of
society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.”
Article 25(2): “Motherhood and
childhood are entitled to special care and assistance."
8. African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights (Banjul Charter 1981)
Article 18(1)(2): “The family
shall be the natural unity and basis of society. It shall be protected by the State which shall take care of
its physical health and moral. The
State shall have the duty to assist the family which is the custodian of
morals and traditional values recognized by the community.”
9.
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms (ROME 1950)
Article
8(1): “Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life,
his home and his correspondence.”
10.
Treaty on Central American Social Integration, signed by the
governments of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and
Panama, Cerro Verde, Republic of El Salvador (March 30, 1995)
"Principles: The States
Parties to the present Treaty will act in accordance with the following
principles: The view of family as
the essential nucleus of society and focus of social policy."
11.
Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action
of the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen, Denmark, March 6-12,
1995)
Annex II:
Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development
Content.
Chapter II. Eradication of
Poverty.
Para. D(39): "Particular
efforts should be made to protect children and youth by: (g) Addressing the
special needs of indigenous children and their families, particularly those
living in poor areas, enabling them to benefit adequately from economic and
social development programmes, with full respect for their cultures,
languages and traditions;."
12.
Program of Immediate Actions Derived from the Declaration of San
Salvador II for the Investment in Human Capital signed
by signed the Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama and the Prime Minister of Belize, El Costa
Verde, Republic of El Salvador (March 30, 1995)
"To elaborate a proposal for
bringing up to date and harmonizing national legislation regarding the
family in the new context of protection and promotion of family
rights."
II.
DOMESTIC AUTHORITIES AND PRECEDENTS
13. Brazil
Constituiao da República Federativa do Brasil
Artigo 231: “Sao reconhecido aos índios sua
organizacao social, costumes, línguas, crencas e tradicoes."
14.
Canada
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples , Vol 3 Recommendations
“The government of Canada
acknowledge a fiduciary responsibility to support Aboriginal nations and
their communities in restoring Aboriginal families to a state of health and
wholeness.”
3.2.10
“Federal, provincial and
territorial governments promptly acknowledge that the field of family law is
generally a core area of Aboriginal self-governing jurisdiction, in which
Aboriginal nations can undertake self-starting initiatives without prior
federal, provincial or territorial agreements.”
3.2.11
“Federal, provincial and
territorial governments acknowledge the validity of Aboriginal customary law
in areas of family law, such as marriage, divorce, child custody and
adoption, and amend their legislation accordingly.”
15. Chile
Ley No. 19.253
Artículo 4: "Para todos los efectos legales, la
posesión notoria del estado civil del padre, madre, cónyuge o hijo se
considerará como título suficiente para constituir en favor de los indígenas
los mismos derechos y obligaciones que, conforme a las leyes comunes, emanen
de la filiación lejítima y del matrimonio civil. Para acreditarla bastará
la información testimonial de parientes o vecinos, que podrá rendirse en
cualquier gestión judicial, o un informe de la Corporación suscrito por el
Director. Se entenderá que la mitad de los bienes pertenecen al marido y la
otra mitad a su cónyuge, a menos que conste que los terrenos han sido
aportados por sólo uno de los cónyuges".
16.
United
States
- Indian Child Welfare Act
of 1978, 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq. & implementing regulations, 25 CFR
Pt. 23:
§1901:
acknowledging failure of States in child custody proceedings “to recognize
the essential tribal relations of Indian people and the cultural and social
standards prevailing in Indian communities and families.”
§1902: “it is the policy of
this Nation to protect the best interest of Indian children and to promote
the stability and security of Indian tribes and families.”
§1911(a)(b): recognizing
exclusive jurisdiction of tribal courts to indigenous child custody
proceedings and obligation of a State court to transfer such cases to tribal
jurisdiction (some exceptions to both) and
§1911(c): giving Indian
custodian “right to intervene at any point” in a child custody
proceeding.
§1911(d): the courts throughout
the United States “shall give full faith and credit to the public acts,
records, and judicial proceedings of any Indian tribe applicable to Indian
child custody proceedings.”
§1912(a): duty of a State court
in involuntary custody proceeding of indigenous child to “notify the
parent or Indian custodian and the Indian child’s tribe...”
§1912(f): establishing high
standards before the termination of parental rights or the foster placement
of an Indian child can be completed
§1915: “In any adoptive
placement of an Indian child under State law, a preference shall be given,
in the absence of good cause to the contrary, to a placement with (1) a
member of the child’s extended family
[”as defined by the law or custom of the Indian child’s tribe”
(§1902(2))]; (2) other members of the Indian child’s tribe; or (3) other
Indian families.”
25 CFR Pt. 23.3: “The policy of
the Act and of these regulations is to protect Indian children from
arbitrary removal from their families and tribal affiliations by
establishing procedures to insure that measures to prevent the breakup of
Indian families are followed in child custody proceedings. This will insure
protection of the best interests of Indian children and Indian families by
providing assistance and funding to Indian tribes and Indian organizations
in the operation of child and family service programs which reflect the
unique values of Indian culture and promote the stability and security of
Indian families.”
17. Guatemala
Constitución Política de la República de Guatemala
Artículo
66: “Protección a grupos étnicos.
EI Estado reconoce, respeta y promueve sus formas de vida,
costumbres, tradiciones, formas de organización social.”
18. Panama
Régimen Especial de la Comarca Kuna Yala (Ley 2 de
1938 -modificada por la Ley 99 de 1998)
Artículo
67: "La unión de un hombre y una mujer Kuna, de conformidad con las
normas consuetudinarias vigentes en Comara, tendrán efectos civiles”.
19. Paraguay
Constitución de la República de Paraguay
Artículo
63: De la Identidad étnica: Tienen derecho, asimismo, a aplicar libremente
sus sistemas de organización
política, social, económica, cultural y religiosa, al igual que la
voluntaria sujeción a sus normas consuetudinarias para la regulación de la
convivencia interior siempre que ellas no atenten contra los derechos
fundamentales establecidos en esta Constitución.
En los conflictos jurisdiccionales se tendrá en cuenta el derecho
consuetudinario indígena”.
20. Mexico
-Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Artículo
4: ...”La ley protegerá y promoverá el desarrollo de sus lenguas,
culturas, usos, costumbres, recursos y formas específicas de organización
social...Esta protegerá la organización y el desarrollo de la
familia”...
- Ley de derechos de los
pueblos y comunidades indígenas del Estado de Oaxaca
Artículo 29: "El Estado de Oaxaca reconoce la
validez de las normas internas de los pueblos y comunidades indígenas en el
ámbito de las relaciones familiares, de la vida civil, de la organización
de la vida comunitaria y en general de la prevención y solución de
conflictos al interior de cada comunidad, siempre y cuando no contravengan
la Constitución Política del Estado, las Leyes Estatales vigentes ni
vulneren derechos humanos ni de terceros”.
Artículo 45: "El Estado reconoce las diversas
formas de organización de las familias indígenas como base de reproducción
y sustentación de los pueblos indígenas de Oaxaca”.
21. Nicaragua
Constitución de Nicaragua
Artículo
89: “Las Comunidades de la Costa Atlántica tienen el derecho de preservar
y desarrollar su identidad cultural en la unidad nacional; dotarse de sus
propias formas de organización”.
Artículo 180: ...”Las Comunidades de la Costa Atlántica
tienen el derecho de vivir y desarrollarse bajo las formas de organización
social que corresponden a sus tradiciones y históricas y culturales”...
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