African Youth Charter
The African Youth Charter (AYC) was endorsed on 2 July 2006 by the African Union Heads of States and Governments meeting in Banjul (Gambia). It entered into force on 8 August 2009.
The Charter is a political and legal document which serves as the strategic framework for African States, giving direction for youth empowerment and development at continental, regional and national levels. The AYC aims to strengthen, reinforce and consolidate efforts to empower young people through meaningful youth participation and equal partnership in driving Africa's development agenda.
The Youth Charter is a legal document to support policies, programmes and actions for youth development in Africa
The Charter refers to the rights, freedoms and obligations of youth in Africa.
The Youth Decade Plan of Action 2009-2018 is a roadmap for the effective popularization, ratification and implementation of the AYC.
The policy focuses on youth participation in society and politics; youth’s role in development; commitments to young people regarding education, health, employment, eradication of poverty, the environment, peace and security, law, and culture. The Charter also addresses itself towards specific groups of youth including young women and girls, and disabled young people.
To take effect, African Member States need to ratify the Charter and translate the Charter’s commitments into their national laws. One of the goals of the UNESCO Strategy on African Youth is to partner with the African Union Commission to promote the ratification and implementation of the Charter throughout the African continent.
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