1
PREAMBLE
GUIDED by the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the States Parties to the
present “African Youth Charter”,
GUIDED by the vision, hopes and aspirations of the African Union, inclusive of
Africa’s integration, the inherent dignity and inalienable rights afforded to all
members of the human family as set out in the United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant of Civil and
Political Rights (1976) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (1976), and articulated for the African peoples through the African
Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1986);
RECALLING the resolution of the Heads of State and government during the
1999 Algiers Summit for the development of the Pan-African Charter;
FULLY ATTACHED to the virtues and values of African historical tradition and
civilization which form the foundation for our concept of people’s rights;
RECALLING the historic injustices imposed on Africa such as slavery,
colonization, depletion of natural resources and taking into account the firm will of
African peoples for self-determination and the economic integration of Africa;
CONVINCED that Africa’s greatest resource is its youthful population and that
through their active and full participation, Africans can surmount the difficulties
that lie ahead;
BEARING IN MIND the international Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (1979) and the Protocol to the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights relating to the Rights of Women in Africa (2003) and
the progress achieved in eliminating gender discrimination, but ever cognisant of
the obstacles that still prevent girls and women from fully participating in African
society;
REAFFIRMING the need to take appropriate measures to promote and protect the
rights and welfare of children as outlined in the Convention of the Rights of the
Child (1989) and through the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the
Child (1999),
ACKNOWLEDGING the commitments already made towards the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and inviting the partners to reaffirm their
support to advance the well-being of youth;
RECOGNISING the efforts made by States Parties and civil societies to address
the economic, social, educational, cultural and spiritual needs of youth;
NOTING with concern the situation of African youth, many of whom are
marginalized from mainstream society through inequalities in income, wealth and