Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006, as amended to 2011
Marriage and Family Life
  • English
    Each individual has the right to marry with the person of their choice, of the opposite sex, and to establish a family.
    The family, the basic unit of the human community, is organized in a manner to assure its unity, its stability and its protection. It is placed under the protection of the public powers.
    The care and the education to be given to the children constitute, for the parents, a natural right and a duty which they exercise under the surveillance [and] with the aid of the public powers.
    The children have the duty to assist their parents.
    The law establishes the rules concerning marriage and the organization of the family. (Art. 40)
  • French
    Tout individu a le droit de se marier avec la personne de son choix, de sexe opposé, et de fonder une famille.
    La famille, cellule de base de la communauté humaine, est organisée de manière à assurer son unité, sa stabilité et sa protection. Elle est placée sous la protection des pouvoirs publics.
    Les soins et l’éducation à donner aux enfants constituent, pour les parents, un droit naturel et un devoir qu’ils exercent sous la surveillance et avec l’aide des pouvoirs publics.
    Les enfants ont le devoir d’assister leurs parents.
    La loi fixe les règles sur le mariage et l’organisation de la famille. (Art. 40)
Marriage and Family Life
  • English
    Every person, without distinction of sex, who is not more than 18 years of age, is a minor.
    All minors have the right to know the names of their father and of their mother.
    They have, equally, the right to enjoy the protection of their family, of society and of the public powers.
    … (Art. 41)
  • French
    L’enfant mineur est toute personne, sans distinction de sexe, qui n’a pas encore atteint 18 ans révolus.
    Tout enfant mineur a le droit de connaître les noms de son père et de sa mère.
    Il a également le droit de jouir de la protection de sa famille, de la société et des pouvoirs publics.
    … (Art. 41)
Marriage and Family Life
  • English

    Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Constitution, the law establishes the rules concerning:
    …
    5. … the status and capacity of persons, the matrimonial regimes,
    … (Art. 122)

  • French

    Sans préjudice des autres dispositions de la présente Constitution, la loi fixe les règles concernant:
    …
    5. … l’état et la capacité des personnes, les régimes matrimoniaux,
    … (Art. 122)

Marriage and Family Life
  • English

    Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Constitution, the following matters are of the exclusive competence of the Central Power:
    …
    36. legislation concerning[,] notably;
    …
    h. … the protection of mother and child,
    … (Art. 202)

  • French

    Sans préjudice des autres dispositions de la présente Constitution, les matières suivantes sont de la compétence exclusive du pouvoir central:
    …
    36. la législation notamment concernant:
    …
    h) … la protection maternelle et infantile,
    … (Art. 202)

1

Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006, as amended to 2011 (English). According to Art. 1: “… Its official language is French. …” There are discrepancies in the numbering and content of the English and French texts.

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Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2006, as amended to 2011 (French).

Links to all sites last visited 9 February 2024
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There are discrepancies between the English and French texts.

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There are discrepancies between the English and French texts.
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There are discrepancies between the English and French texts.

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There are discrepancies between the English and French texts.

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There are discrepancies between the English and French texts.

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There are discrepancies between the English and French texts.

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There are discrepancies between the English and French texts.