This chapter examines the normative and structural framework of the Charter, highlighting its unique strengths and weaknesses within the broader African human rights context. Like the Convention, the Charter is predicated on four cardinal principles which are meant to help with the interpretation of the Charter as a whole and thereby guide national programmes of implementation. The Convention and the Charter not only set out the rights of a child but also specify safeguards which state parties should provide for his or her welfare. It is shown that the Charter on the rights and welfare of the child is not just a list of rights, rather, it represents a different way of viewing children and the relations between children and the society.  Keywords:African Charter, African human rights, Children's Rights