1. Every young person accused or found guilty of having infringed the penal law shall have the right to be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.

2. States Parties shall in particular: d) Provide induction programmes for imprisoned youth that are based on reformation, social rehabilitation and re-integration into family life;

2. States Parties shall undertake to pursue the full implementation of this right and in particular shall take measures to: m) Provide rehabilitation for young people abusing drugs such that they can be re-integrated into social and economic life;

2. States Parties shall undertake to pursue the full implementation of this right and in particular shall take measures to: f) Expand the availability and encourage the uptake of voluntary counselling and confidential testing for HIV/AIDS;

RECALLING the resolution of the Heads of State and government during the 1999 Algiers Summit for the development of the Pan-African Charter;

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;

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;

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION the needs and aspirations of young displaced persons, refugees and youth with special needs;

1. Every young person shall have the right to free association and freedom of peaceful assembly in conformity with the law.

1. States Parties of the African Union to the present Charter shall recognize the rights, freedoms and duties enshrined in this Charter.

CONSIDERING that Article 66 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights provides for special protocols or agreements, if necessary, to supplement the provisions of the African Charter, and that the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity meeting in its Thirty-first Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in June 1995, endorsed by resolution AHG/Res.240 (XXXI) the recommendation of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to elaborate a Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa;

Every young person has the right to leave any country, including his/her own, and to return to his/her country.

2. States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that youth are protected against all forms of discrimination on the basis of status, activities, expressed opinions or beliefs.

Every young person shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

2. States Parties shall ensure that young men and young women enjoy equal rights to own property.

2. States Parties shall commit themselves to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of women and men through public education, information, education and communication strategies, with a view to achieving the elimination of harmful cultural and traditional practices and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes, or on stereotyped roles for women and men.

4. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures with a view to achieving full realisation of this right and shall, in particular: k) Encourage youth participation in community work as part of education to build a sense of civic duty;

1. Every young person shall be assured the right to express his or her ideas and opinions freely in all matters and to disseminate his or her ideas and opinions subject to the restrictions as are prescribed by laws.

1. The family, as the most basic social institution, shall enjoy the full protection and support of States Parties for its establishment and development noting that the structure and form of families varies in different social and cultural contexts.

1. Every young person shall have the right to social, economic, political and cultural development with due regard to their freedom and identity and in equal enjoyment of the common heritage of mankind.

1. Every young person shall have the right to participate in all spheres of society.

1. Every State Parties shall develop a comprehensive and coherent national youth policy. a) The policy shall be cross-sectoral in nature considering the inter- relatedness of the challenges facing young people;

1. Every young person shall have the right to gainful employment.

State Parties undertake to design and implement social and economic policies and programmes that promote sustainable development and human security.

State Parties shall establish public institutions that promote and support democracy and constitutional order.

Reaffirming our collective will to work relentlessly to deepen and consolidate the rule of law, peace, security and development in our countries;

Determined to promote and strengthen good governance through the institutionalization of transparency, accountability and participatory democracy;

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

The objectives of this Charter are to: Promote State Parties' sustainable development and human security;

Concerned about the unconstitutional changes of governments that are one of the essential causes of insecurity, instability and violent conflict in Africa;