Elizabeth Marquardt writes about a lecture by professor Lynn Wardle exploring the fact that "86 percent of constitutions of nations around the world ... contain provisions about parenting and parenthood":

Among the themes he identifies are:

-The family is the basic unit of society and the concern of the whole society (for example, Kyrgyzstan, Iran)

-Parent-child relations are pre-existing and natural (Burkino Faso, others)

-Parent-child relations are to be protected and not lightly intervened upon by the state (Germany, etc)

-Parents have the duty to raise their children as responsible, self-regulating citizens (Central African Republic, etc)

-Dependency and vulnerability of family members require special care and protection by the state (Afghanistan, Armenia, others)

-Special consideration is given to fatherless children. For example, Swaziland’s constitution abolishes illegitimacy, and Vanuatu’s addresses the parental duty to support and raise all children, legitimate and illegitimate