4 • AFRICAN YOUTH CHARTER areas, namely Education and Skills Development, Poverty Eradication and Socio-economic Integration of Youth, Sustainable Livelihoods and Youth Employment, Health, Peace and Security, Law Enforcement, Sustainable Development and Protection of the Environment. It is expected that the execution of these guidelines would not only provide the youth with necessary tools for livelihood but also stem the flow of Africa’s most important resource to other parts of the world. Finally, the Charter outlines the responsibilities of Youth to their own development and to their countries and continent. In other words, the rights embodied in the Charter are accompanied by responsibilities as well. The Youth cannot expect governments to empower them while they do the opposite by abusing themselves in various ways such as substance abuse. To be able to get maximum benefits from the implementation of the Charter it is expected that youth would also develop and promote the required self-discipline. I have the privilege to encourage Heads of State and Government in all Member States to ratify the Charter as soon as possible and support the process of popularizing the Charter at national levels. I also invite our development partners to assist African youth in their role as custodians of their own development and to participate fully in citizenship duties towards the socio-economic development of their countries. Finally, the African Union Commission reiterates its commitment to fulfil its duty towards African youth development and empowerment for the development of the continent. Prof. Nagia M. Essayed Commissioner Human Resource, Science and Technology