Country Green Crescent representatives contributed in the East Africa Youth Forum on Drugs (EAYFD), held in Arusha, Tanzania, from 4 to 6 June 2026. Supported by the International Federation of Green Crescent (IFGC), the forum brought together young leaders, civil society representatives, researchers, and experts to discuss current challenges and opportunities in addiction prevention. Representatives from the Turkish Green Crescent Society, Green Crescent Society Kenya, Malawi Green Crescent, Uganda Green Crescent Society, and Tanzania Green Crescent Community actively participated in the forum, sharing experiences from their respective countries and contributing to discussions on strengthening regional cooperation. Their participation highlighted the important role of civil society and youth engagement in prevention efforts across East Africa. During the forum, IFGC introduced its global network and ongoing initiatives supporting Country Green Crescents worldwide. The program also featured a presentation by Green Crescent Society Kenya on mental health-based approaches to preventing substance use among young people, emphasizing the importance of placing youth at the center of prevention strategies.  

The 79th World Health Assembly, convened in Geneva, Switzerland, brought together government delegations, United Nations agencies, international organizations and civil society actors to discuss global public health priorities. As the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization, the Assembly serves as a key platform for international health diplomacy and cooperation on issues related to health systems, universal health coverage, mental health, pandemic preparedness and sustainable development. Held at the Palais des Nations from 18 to 23 May 2026, the Assembly provided an important opportunity for governments, experts and civil society organizations to exchange views on current global health challenges and strengthen international cooperation in the field of public health. Within this framework, the IFGC participated in the 79th World Health Assembly with a particular focus on addiction prevention and public health approaches. Representing 70 Country Green Crescent organizations, IFGC followed discussions related to public health policies and engaged in meetings and side events concerning addiction and preventive health services. A key highlight of IFGC’s participation was its contribution to the panel titled “From Commitment to Coverage, Integrating Substance Use into Universal Health Coverage,” hosted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on 20 May 2026. The panel brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including international organizations, public health experts and civil society organizations working in the field of chemical and behavioral addiction. Speaking on behalf of IFGC, Secretary General Ambassador Dr. Mehmet Güllüoğlu described addiction as a growing global public health challenge and emphasized that harm reduction approaches alone are not sufficient. IFGC shared recommendations including integrating addiction services into primary healthcare systems, recognizing prevention as an essential health service and strengthening protective public health policies. Throughout the Assembly, IFGC also held courtesy meetings with diplomatic representatives of Türkiye in Geneva. Within this scope, meetings were conducted on 21 May with Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization Hakan Çakıl and Consul General of Türkiye in Geneva Salih Boğaç Güldere. The International Cooperation and Federation Management Director Ergin Beceren of the The Turkish Green Crescent Society and Manager of the International Federation of Green Crescent, Sara Evli Özhan also met on 22 May with Alex Mejia, Director of the Social Development Division at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. In addition, a courtesy meeting was held with Deputy Director of the Social Development Division Prof. Dr. Ebru Canan-Sokullu to assess ongoing and potential collaborations. Turkish Green Crescent Society also participated in WHA79 through the official delegation of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye. The delegation followed developments related to tobacco and alcohol control policies, mental health and addiction, engaged with international civil society organizations and member state representatives, and participated in side events focusing on scientific developments and good practices in the field of addiction prevention. Members of the Scientific Committee of Türkiye Yeşilay Cemiyeti, Prof. Hakan Coşkunol and Associate Professor Dr. Perihan Torun, also took part in the Assembly as part of the delegation.  

As IFGC, we participated in the panel "From Commitment to Coverage: Integrating Substance Use into UHC" at WHA79 in Geneva. Hosted by @IFRC, bringing together diverse stakeholders - diverse civil society organizations working on chemical and behavioral addictions —to discuss substance use within Universal Health Coverage for the very first time at the World Health Assembly.   Speaking at the panel, IFGC Secretary-General, Ambassador Dr. Mehmet Güllüoğlu, highlighted addiction as a global health crisis and emphasized that harm reduction alone is not enough. Representing our 70 Country Green Crescents, he shared concrete solutions: integrating addiction services into primary care, recognizing prevention as an essential health service, and strengthening protective policies. We stand ready to cooperate globally to leave no one behind!