The African Youth Charter is a document adopted by the African Union (AU) in 2006 that outlines the rights, duties, and freedoms of young people in Africa. The charter serves as a framework for youth development and empowerment on the continent, and provides guidelines for governments and other stakeholders to create policies and programs that support young people.

The charter is divided into several sections, including:

1. Preamble: This section provides an overview of the importance of youth development in Africa and recognizes the role of young people in the continent’s social, economic, and political development.
2. Objectives: This section outlines the overall objectives of the charter, which include promoting the active participation of young people in all aspects of society, ensuring their access to education, health care, and employment, and protecting their human rights.
3. Definitions: This section defines key terms used throughout the charter, such as “youth,” “participation,” and “empowerment.”
4. Rights and Freedoms: This section outlines the rights and freedoms that young people are entitled to, including the right to education, health care, freedom of expression, and participation in decision-making processes.
5. Duties and Responsibilities: This section outlines the duties and responsibilities of young people, which include respecting the law, participating in community development, and promoting peace and tolerance.
6. Participation: This section highlights the importance of youth participation in all aspects of society, including political, economic, and cultural spheres.
7. Education and Training: This section emphasizes the importance of education and training for youth development, and calls for governments to ensure that all young people have access to quality education and training opportunities.
8. Employment and Entrepreneurship: This section recognizes the importance of employment and entrepreneurship for youth development and calls for policies and programs that support youth employment and entrepreneurship.
9. Health and Well-being: This section highlights the importance of promoting the health and well-being of young people, and calls for policies and programs that address issues such as HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and substance abuse.
10. Peace and Security: This section recognizes the important role that young people can play in promoting peace and security in their communities and calls for policies and programs that support youth-led peacebuilding initiatives.
11. Implementation: This section outlines the mechanisms for implementing the charter, including the establishment of a monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress in achieving the objectives of the charter.

In summary, the African Youth Charter is a comprehensive document that outlines the rights, duties, and freedoms of young people in Africa, and provides a framework for their development and empowerment. The charter emphasizes the importance of youth participation, education and training, employment and entrepreneurship, health and well-being, and peace and security, and calls on governments and other stakeholders to take action to support young people. To download the document click here