CRC/C/MDG/3-4 - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

CRC/C/MDG/3-4
Boys Girls
Districts 5 to 12 13 to 21 Total 5 to 12 13 to 21 Total
Ampanihy 10.4 12.2 32.2 13.9 19.8 48.7
Morondava 10.1 12.7 29.3 12.5 12 29.3
Taolagnaro 11.6 25.6 50.2 11.5 23 46.4
Toliara I & II 15.6 15.6 42.5 14.1 16.3 40.7
All 12.8 21.0 46.9 19.9 19.2 50.6
Source: Survey by AUDIMAT 2004, Directorate of information and media regulation / UNICEF
V. Family environment and alternative placement
A. Parental guidance
1. Family structures
170. On average, a Malagasy household is composed of 4.9 persons. The average size of
households in urban areas varies from 3.7 (Analanjirofo) to 5.5 (Anosy), with a national
average of 4.6.
171. The average size of households in rural areas varies from 3.9 (Diana) to 5.5
(Androy), with a national average of 4.9.
172. The rate of customary marriage is 43.3 per cent, versus 32.4 per cent for officially
registered marriage.
173. Women head 18.9 per cent of households. This figure rises to five households out of
nine in urban areas. Female heads of household are largely widowed (43.4 per cent) or
separated (38.6 per cent).
174. Malagasy society is based on a patriarchal system.
175. Some circumstances weaken the family structure: broken families, single-parent
families, death of one or both of the spouses.
176. Through the Board of Guardians, the extended family intervenes in cases in which
the biological parents are facing serious difficulties. The traditional authorities
(Tangalamena, Sojabe, Ampanjaka and Ray Aman-dreny) also play an important role in
parental guidance. The fokontany leaders, as well as various members of the local
communities, come to the aid of families facing difficulties through the "fihavanana"
framework, a form of community-based mutual aid.
177. Currently, inadequate assumption of parental responsibility results in cases of
abandonment of the home or family, and child abandonment. The central branch of the vice
squad and the office for the protection of juveniles documented three cases of child
abandonment in 2003, 11 cases in 2004, six cases in 2005, 11 cases in 2006 and 17 cases in
2007.
178. In all of the cases, the vulnerability of the family was linked to a very low standard
of living and an inadequate level of education on the part of the parents.
2. Legislative measures
179. The Constitution recognizes the family as the natural, fundamental element of
society, and ensures its protection.
40 GE.10-42176 (EXT)