AFRICAN YOUTH CHARTER • 19 b) The development of a national youth policy shall be informed by extensive consultation with young people and cater for their active participation in decisionmaking at all levels of governance in issues concerning youth and society as a whole; c) A youth perspective shall be integrated and mainstreamed into all planning and decision-making as well as programme development. The appointment of youth focal points in government structures shall enable this process; d) Mechanisms to address these youth challenges shall be framed within the national development framework of the country; e) The policy shall provide guidelines on the definition of youth adopted and specify subgroups that shall be targeted for development; f) The policy shall advocate equal opportunities for young men and for young women; g) A baseline evaluation or situation analysis shall inform the policy on the priority issues for youth development; h) The policy shall be adopted by parliament and enacted into law; i) A national youth coordinating mechanism shall be set up and shall provide a platform as well as serve as a linking agent for youth organisations to