On 27 November, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran, and Pakistan (UNODC ROCA), in partnership with the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Turkmenistan, hosted a pivotal high-level event in Tashkent. The event focused on empowering youth to take a leading role in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing Central Asia.
The "UN Joint Event on Strengthening the Role of Youth in Prevention and Response Mechanisms for a Sustainable Future" brought together 23 young leaders from across the region, including 9 participants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and 14 from Uzbekistan. This gathering of young change-makers provided a unique platform for discussing critical issues such as anticorruption, the prevention of violent extremism, drug use and crime prevention, gender-based violence, and peace and security.
Mr. Oliver Stolpe, UNODC Regional Representative for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan, emphasized the vital role of youth in advancing the UNODC regional strategy and driving positive change across the region.
The core objective of the event was to facilitate collaboration and dialogue among youth leaders, enabling them to share innovative solutions and actionable strategies for tackling these regional challenges. By bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds, the event aimed to strengthen existing response mechanisms and promote youth-driven initiatives for peace, security, and sustainable development. Activists from the UNODC Youth Network and the UNRCCA Preventive Diplomacy Academy (PDA) actively engaged, learning about ongoing youth empowerment programs and discussing how these platforms can be leveraged to amplify the voices of young people in regional decision-making.
The interactive session featured key activities aimed at fostering collaboration and action, including presentations from the UNODC Regional Youth Network and UN agencies showcasing successful youth empowerment initiatives, interactive group discussions on youth-led interventions to address regional challenges like violent extremism and corruption, and collaborative workshops to generate actionable recommendations for enhancing youth participation in policy development and response mechanisms.
The meeting underscored the pivotal role young people can play in shaping effective strategies for long-term peace and security in Central Asia. By fostering partnerships and encouraging active youth participation, the UN aims to ensure that youth voices are not only heard but are central to decision-making processes that affect their futures and the future of the region.
This initiative is part of the broader UN commitment to building inclusive, resilient societies by empowering youth with the tools, knowledge, and platforms they need to lead change within their communities. The UN recognizes that young people are key agents of transformation, and their involvement in addressing the region’s challenges is essential for building a sustainable and peaceful future for all.
The youth participants expressed a strong sense of empowerment and inspiration from the event, highlighting the value of engaging in meaningful discussions on critical regional issues such as drug trafficking, violent extremism, and gender-based violence. Many noted that the opportunity to collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds and interact with UN experts broadened their understanding of the complex challenges facing Central Asia.
