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Youth Advocacy Forum 2025 Brought Together Young Participants From 16 Countries in Türkiye

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21.11.2025

Youth Advocacy Forum 2025 Brought Together Young Participants From 16 Countries in Türkiye

The 6th Youth Advocacy Forum (YAF 2025), organized by the Turkish Green Crescent Society in collaboration with UNODC and supported by IFGC, was held between 21–23 November 2025 and brought together 29 young participants from 16 countries, including Country Green Crescent volunteers. This year’s Forum once again underscored the essential role of youth in building healthier, safer, and more resilient societies through sport.

The opening day featured keynote speeches from distinguished participants. Doruk Malhan, Vice President of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, emphasized the importance of empowering youth as advocates for healthier and addiction-free communities. Georgia Dimitropoulou, UNODC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer, highlighted the significance of sport-based prevention in fostering inclusion, justice, and resilience. Dr. Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative to Türkiye, underlined the need for youth-centered health promotion and multistakeholder collaboration. Assoc. Prof. Safa Koçoğlu, Deputy Minister from the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports, stressed Türkiye’s commitment to youth leadership and safe community environments through sport. The programme also welcomed Mehmet Kani Polat, Chair of the World Taekwondo Athletes Committee and Captain of the Turkish National Taekwondo Team, who shared his experiences on the power of sportsmanship and discipline in shaping youth development.

Country Green Crescent volunteers supported by IFGC and participating from nine countries included Umma Limongi (Colombia), Fareed Damra (Jordan – Jordan Anti-Drug Society), Antonella Alexandre (Uruguay), Aqilah Binti Zulkifli (Malaysia), Suhail Bismilla (South Africa), Layan Hammad (Jordan), Karim Abou Melhem (Lebanon), Onur Naim (Palestine), Rayane Bouadi (Belgium), Nasser Hafid (Belgium), and Imane Boujemaoui (Belgium).

On 22–23 November, the Forum continued at the Riva National Teams Training and Camp Center with an intensive programme delivered by UNODC’s Georgia Dimitropoulou and Turkish Green Crescent Society trainer Merve Fidan. Participants took part in life skills sessions focusing on critical thinking, media literacy, communication, advocacy, and healthy living, as well as UNODC’s interactive training activities designed to strengthen leadership and resilience. The event concluded with a certificate ceremony and closing session, celebrating the achievements of the young participants and reinforcing their dedication to promoting healthier and safer communities in their respective countries.

Through UNODC’s leadership and the support of IFGC, YAF 2025 successfully strengthened international youth cooperation, empowered young leaders, and advanced sustainable, sport-based approaches to prevention and community well-being worldwide.

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The International Federation of Green Crescent (IFGC) and its member Country Green Crescents actively participated in the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND69), held from 9 to 13 March 2026 in Vienna, Austria and online.  Throughout the session, 16 Country Green Crescents contributed to global drug policy discussions, including Public Association Against Harmful Habits Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan), Health & Economy (Bangladesh), Conectados Pela Vida (Brazil), Yayasan Green Crescent Indonesia (Indonesia), Green Crescent Colombia (Colombia), Çaşıl Ay Koomu (Kyrgyzstan), Stardom Association (Al Najm) (Lebanon), Pertubuhan Bulan Sabit Hijau Malaysia (Malaysia), Green Crescent Health Development Initiative (Nigeria), Rwanda Youth Impact (Rwanda), Madinaty (Tunisia), Türkiye Yeşilay Cemiyeti (Turkey), Green Crescent Uruguay (Uruguay), The Jordan Anti-Drugs Society (Jordan), Green Crescent Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), and Green Crescent Colombia (Colombia). During the session, IFGC coordinated a comprehensive programme of activities addressing key global challenges in addiction prevention and treatment. A total of eight hybrid and online side events were organized directly by Country Green Crescents, while contributions through co-sponsorship increased this number to 13 side events overall. These sessions covered a wide range of themes, including early drug use risks among migrant youth, emerging cocaine trafficking routes in Africa and Asia, poly-substance use and treatment systems, protection of children in vulnerable situations, synthetic drug prevention strategies, youth involvement in the drug economy, and the role of families and communities in strengthening resilience. Country Green Crescents leading these efforts included organizations from Lebanon, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Brazil, and Malaysia. In addition to side events, Country Green Crescents actively contributed to the formal proceedings of the Commission. Three written statements were submitted, including a joint statement on behalf of Green Crescents from Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, Sudan, and Indonesia, highlighting the financial and bureaucratic barriers faced by ECOSOC-accredited NGOs from low- and middle-income countries in accessing United Nations processes. Further written contributions emphasized the importance of youth-led and community-based prevention programmes and framed drug use prevention as a fundamental human right. Two oral statements were also delivered during plenary sessions. The Turkish Green Crescent Society underlined its extensive experience in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, while calling for stronger, systematic prevention policies. Stardom Association (Lebanon) also delivered an oral intervention, reflecting the key messages of the joint statement on participation challenges. As part of on-site engagement in Vienna, Lebanon and Malaysia Green Crescents participated physically in the sessions, further strengthening representation from the network. In parallel, the Turkish Green Crescent Society hosted an Art for Awareness exhibition, highlighting the role of creative approaches in raising awareness and supporting prevention efforts. Through these diverse contributions, IFGC and Country Green Crescents reinforced international cooperation and demonstrated the critical role of civil society in shaping inclusive, evidence-based, and human rights-oriented drug policies.

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