3 DEFINITIONS “Chairperson” shall mean the Chairperson of the African Union Commission; “Charter” shall mean the African Youth Charter; “Commission” shall mean the Commission of African Union “Diaspora” shall mean peoples of African descent and heritage living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and who remain committed to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union (DOC.EX.CL/164(VII)) “Member States” shall mean Member States of the African Union “Minors” shall mean young people aged 15 to 17 years subject to each country’s laws “States Parties” shall mean Member States, which have ratified or acceded to the present Charter; “Union” shall mean the African Union “Youth” For the purposes of this Charter, youth or young people shall refer to every person between the ages of 15 and 35 years.