2. States Parties shall in particular: a) Ensure that youth who are detained or imprisoned or in rehabilitation centres are not subjected to torture, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment;

2. States Parties shall in particular: f) Ensure that accused and convicted young people are entitled to a lawyer.

1. States Parties shall ensure the use of sustainable methods to improve the lives of young people such that measures instituted do not jeopardise opportunities for future generations.

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION the inter-relatedness of the challenges facing youth and the need for cross-sectoral policies and programmes that attend to the needs of youth in a holistic manner;

CONSIDERING that the promotion and protection of the rights of youth also implies the performance of duties by youth as by all other actors in society;

GUIDED by the Constitutive Act of the African Union, the States Parties to the present "African Youth Charter",

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;

REAFFIRMING that the continuous cultural development of Africa rests with its youth and therefore requires their active and enlightened participation as espoused in the Cultural Charter for Africa;

GUIDED by the New Partnership for Africa's Development Strategic Framework for Youth Programme of 2004 that is working towards youth empowerment and development;

ACKNOWLEDGING the increasing calls and the enthusiasm of youth to actively participate at local, national, regional and international levels to determine their own development and the advancement of society at large;

4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures with a view to achieving full realisation of this right and shall, in particular: d) Strengthen participation in and the quality of training in science and technology;

4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures with a view to achieving full realisation of this right and shall, in particular: f) Make higher education equally accessible to all including establishing distance learning centres of excellence;

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. States Parties shall take the following steps to promote and protect the morals and traditional values recognised by the community: b) Recognise and value beliefs and traditional practices that contribute to development;

1. States Parties shall take the following steps to promote and protect the morals and traditional values recognised by the community: c) Establish institutions and programmes for the development, documentation, preservation and dissemination of culture;

Nothing in this Charter shall be taken as minimising higher standards and values contained in other relevant human rights instruments ratified by States concerned or rational law or policies.

2. The present Charter shall come into force thirty (30) days after the deposit with the Chairperson of the Commission of the instruments of ratification of fifteen (15) Member States.

6. State Parties should encourage youth to conduct research. In this regard, an African discoveries day should be established along with mechanism of awarding prizes at the continental level.

7. Enterprises that are located in Africa should establish partnerships with training institutions to contribute to technology transfer for the benefit of African students and researchers.

The objectives of this Charter are to: Promote adherence, by each State Party, to the universal values and principles of democracy and respect for human rights;

Recognising the contributions of the African Union and Regional Economic Communities to the promotion, nurturing, strengthening and consolidation of democracy and governance;

State Parties shall implement this Charter in accordance with the following principles: Promotion of gender equality in public and private institutions;

State Parties shall implement this Charter in accordance with the following principles: Transparency and fairness in the management of public affairs;

State Parties shall implement this Charter in accordance with the following principles: Condemnation and rejection of acts of corruption, related offenses and impunity;

State Parties shall implement this Charter in accordance with the following principles: Condemnation and total rejection of unconstitutional changes of government;

In this Charter, unless otherwise stated, the following expressions shall have the following meaning: “Constitutive Act” means the Constitutive Act of the Union;

State Parties shall ensure that these institutions are accountable to competent national organs.

State Parties shall provide the above-mentioned institutions with resources to perform their assigned missions efficiently and effectively.