African Youth Charter comes to place of birth as Gambia hosts Banjul+10

NYC Executive Director, Mr. Lamin Darboe

The year 2016 marks ten years of the adoption of the Africa Youth Charter (AYC). Launched in Banjul, in July 2006, by the Seventh Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the Charter eventually entered into force on August 8, 2009.

The AYC is the first legal framework of the AU in favour of the empowerment and development of the youth on the continent. Thirty-five Member States of the AU have so far ratified the instrument, committing their nations to the fulfillment of the rights and obligations of young people, as enshrined and guaranteed in the Charter.

Ten years on next year, it is essential to take stock of the progress made, share good practices, renew commitments and map out a concrete way forward for realising the ideals of the AYC for youth, while also contributing to the attainment of the goals of AU’s Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.


Moreover, 2016 will also mark seven years into the Decade of Youth Development in Africa (2009-2018), a declaration endorsed in 2009 by the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments of the AU.

Buoyed by the fact that the Charter was adopted here in Banjul, as well as the advancements made as a country in youth empowerment and development, The Gambia has been given approval by the AU to have the honour to host the continent-wide commemoration, also known as Banjul+10.

Preparations are in high gear for successful hosting. Already, the NYC and MoYS have set up a national organising committee with representations from government, NGOs, and development partners.
Banjul+10 seeks to provide a common platform for member states to conduct a peer review of the AYC.

The commemoration will feature a youth summit and a high-level political forum as well as presentation of progress review reports. There will also be Africa Youth Awards which aims to celebrate and award the achievements of outstanding African youth across all fields of human endeavour.

Two hundred delegates from across Africa, including youth leaders, ministers for youth affairs, state representatives, African Union Commission, are expected to grace the commemoration slated for May 25, 2016. This will also coincide with Africa Day.

The National Organising Committee, NYC and MOYS wishes to thank the government of the Gambia, under the leadership of His Excellency Sheikh Professor Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh Babili Mansa for accepting to host Banjul+10. We count on the support of the government, development partners, and the general public for successful hosting.