South Africa ratified the African Youth Charter on 28 May 2009, and deposited the instrument of ratification with the Commission of the African Union (AU) on 8 July 2009.
South Africa was the fourteenth country to ratify the Charter which binds member states in the continent to develop supportive policies and programmes for youth. Following the deposit of the fifteenth instrument of ratification, by the Gambia, the African Youth Charter will enter into force in August 2009.
The African Youth Charter was adopted by the assembly of the Heads of State and government of the AU at its 7th ordinary session held in Banjul, the Gambia in July 2006. The charter is a legal instrument for youth empowerment and provides a framework for youth development programming across the AU member states.
This Charter prioritises youth development in the African Union’s agenda and ensures that challenges relating to youth development are adequately addressed. These include unemployment, HIV and AIDS pandemic, illiteracy, restricted access to information and gender violence.
In South Africa, the Department of Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), and the Youth Desk in The Presidency will monitor the implementation process through the National Youth Policy 2009 to 2014. The NYDA, in partnership with government and civil society organisations will be responsible for direct implementation thereof.
Countries that have ratified the charter include: Rwanda, Mali, Gabon, Mauritius, The Gambia, Niger, Libya, Uganda, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Togo, Djibouti, Guinea Bissau and Burkina Faso.
Enquiries:
Nomfanelo Kota
Cell: 082 459 3787
