| COMOROS Union of Comoros Union des Comoros Joined United Nations: 12 November 1975 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Updated 06 March 2013 |
Preamble
The people of the Comoros, affirming its commitment to:
-- Tap into Islam, the inspiration of the principles and rules that govern the Union,
-- Guarantee the continuation of a common destiny among Comorians
-- Build new institutions based on the rule of law, democracy and respect for good governance and ensuring a sharing of power between
the Union and the islands that make up its membership to enable them to realize their legitimate aspirations, administer, manage,
unimpeded their own affairs and to promote their socio-economic development,
-- Demonstrate its commitment to the fundamental principles and rights as defined by the United Nations Charter, the Organization of
African Unity, the Covenant of the League of Arab States, the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Man United Nations and the
African Charter of Human Rights and Peoples' Rights, as well as international conventions including those relating to the rights of children
and women.
Proclaims:
-- Solidarity between the Union and the islands and between the islands themselves,
-- Islands equal in rights and duties,
-- The equality of all rights and duties regardless of sex, origin, race, religion or creed,
-- Equality of all before the law and the right of every individual to the defense,
-- The freedom and security of every individual under the sole condition that n'accomplisse any act likely to harm others,
-- The right to information pluralism and freedom of the press,
-- The freedoms of expression, assembly, association and freedom of association in respect of morality and public order,
-- Free enterprise, and the security of capital and investment,
-- The inviolability of the home in the manner prescribed by law,
-- Ensuring the property except public utility or necessity found in accordance with the law and subject to fair compensation,
-- The right to health and education for all,
-- The right of children and youth to be protected by the government against any form of neglect, exploitation and violence,
-- The right to a healthy environment and the duty of everyone to preserve that environment.
This preamble is an integral part of the Constitution.
The people of the Comoros, affirming its commitment to:
-- Tap into Islam, the inspiration of the principles and rules that govern the Union,
-- Guarantee the continuation of a common destiny among Comorians
-- Build new institutions based on the rule of law, democracy and respect for good governance and ensuring a sharing of power between
the Union and the islands that make up its membership to enable them to realize their legitimate aspirations, administer, manage,
unimpeded their own affairs and to promote their socio-economic development,
-- Demonstrate its commitment to the fundamental principles and rights as defined by the United Nations Charter, the Organization of
African Unity, the Covenant of the League of Arab States, the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Man United Nations and the
African Charter of Human Rights and Peoples' Rights, as well as international conventions including those relating to the rights of children
and women.
Proclaims:
-- Solidarity between the Union and the islands and between the islands themselves,
-- Islands equal in rights and duties,
-- The equality of all rights and duties regardless of sex, origin, race, religion or creed,
-- Equality of all before the law and the right of every individual to the defense,
-- The freedom and security of every individual under the sole condition that n'accomplisse any act likely to harm others,
-- The right to information pluralism and freedom of the press,
-- The freedoms of expression, assembly, association and freedom of association in respect of morality and public order,
-- Free enterprise, and the security of capital and investment,
-- The inviolability of the home in the manner prescribed by law,
-- Ensuring the property except public utility or necessity found in accordance with the law and subject to fair compensation,
-- The right to health and education for all,
-- The right of children and youth to be protected by the government against any form of neglect, exploitation and violence,
-- The right to a healthy environment and the duty of everyone to preserve that environment.
This preamble is an integral part of the Constitution.
Human history in the Comoros Islands dates back thousands of years beginning with
travelers of Indonesian-Polynesian origin. They were followed by successive waves of
African, Arab and Shirazi from Persia who introduced Islam and established a royal house in
the 15th and 16th Century CE. In 1505 Portuguese explorers with the first Europeans to
establish contact followed by the French in 1529. Until the 19th Century the only Europeans
who took an interest in the Comoros Islands were pirates based in Madagascar. French
dominance of the islands began on 25 March 1841 with the annexation of Mayotte. On 5
September 1887, the additional three islands of Comoros were declared a French
Protectorate and a colony of Madagascar on 9 April 1908. The British occupied the islands
beginning on 25 September 1942 and possession returning to France following World War II,
becoming an overseas territory in 1961. On July 6, 1975 the Comorian parliament passed a
resolution declaring unilateral independence however the population of Mayotte voted
against independence from France under whose administration it remains. Comoros claims
Mayotte as a member of the Union. Repeated coup attempts by French mercenaries have
attempted takeover of the island, as well as secession movements from Anjouan and Moheli,
the most recent in 2001 which prompted the creation of a government of shared power
between the three islands. The present constitution was adopted on 23 December 2001.
Human rights are enumerated in the Preamble, conform with the 1948 Universal Declaration
of Human Rights of which Comoros is a signatory and are detailed below. There is no full
English translation but for the official French version of Comoros' Constitution, click here.
travelers of Indonesian-Polynesian origin. They were followed by successive waves of
African, Arab and Shirazi from Persia who introduced Islam and established a royal house in
the 15th and 16th Century CE. In 1505 Portuguese explorers with the first Europeans to
establish contact followed by the French in 1529. Until the 19th Century the only Europeans
who took an interest in the Comoros Islands were pirates based in Madagascar. French
dominance of the islands began on 25 March 1841 with the annexation of Mayotte. On 5
September 1887, the additional three islands of Comoros were declared a French
Protectorate and a colony of Madagascar on 9 April 1908. The British occupied the islands
beginning on 25 September 1942 and possession returning to France following World War II,
becoming an overseas territory in 1961. On July 6, 1975 the Comorian parliament passed a
resolution declaring unilateral independence however the population of Mayotte voted
against independence from France under whose administration it remains. Comoros claims
Mayotte as a member of the Union. Repeated coup attempts by French mercenaries have
attempted takeover of the island, as well as secession movements from Anjouan and Moheli,
the most recent in 2001 which prompted the creation of a government of shared power
between the three islands. The present constitution was adopted on 23 December 2001.
Human rights are enumerated in the Preamble, conform with the 1948 Universal Declaration
of Human Rights of which Comoros is a signatory and are detailed below. There is no full
English translation but for the official French version of Comoros' Constitution, click here.