Youth development interventions and programmes must be guided by the following principles:
| (a) | recognition of the manner in which youth has been affected by the imbalances of the past and the need to redress these imbalances through more equitable policies, programmes and the allocation of resources; |
| (b) | promotion of equal opportunity and equal treatment of youth and the promotion of a gender-inclusive approach to the development of youth, where the social influences of gender, disability, the impact of sexism and the particular circumstances of young women are recognised; |
| (c) | creation of an environment which supports the continued development and learning of youth; |
| (d) | promotion of youth’s participation in— |
| (ii) | community and civic decision-making; and |
| (iii) | development at all levels; |
| (e) | recognition of youth development as an important mandate; |
| (f) | responsiveness to the needs, aspirations and challenges of youth in a realistic and participatory manner; |
| (g) | recognition of the importance of cultural and spiritual diversity as a basis for youth development; |
| (h) | promotion of the value of sustainability in order to ensure that the needs of youth are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs; |
| (i) | recognition in youth development initiatives of the peculiar needs of rural youth; and |
| (j) | transparency, accountability and accessibility. |
