December 23rd 2024
As we count down the final days of 2024, it is an opportune moment to reflect on the year’s achievements and extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to another successful year of the Youth Initiative.
March is always a dynamic time at the UNODC headquarters in Vienna, with the annual Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) taking place. This year was particularly significant, marking the High-level segment of the Commission and the Mid-Term Review of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration. Alongside this high-level segment, the Youth Forum 2024 brought together 35 dedicated youth participants from 27 countries for three enriching days of dialogue and collaboration. Through interactive sessions, participants deepened their understanding of evidence-based prevention approaches, guided by the UNODC/WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention. Sharing best practices, exchanging experiences, and drawing inspiration from one another, they explored meaningful youth engagement in substance use prevention using the UNODC Handbook on Youth Participation in Drug Prevention Work. Another highlight of the Youth Forum was the delivery of the Youth Statement at the CND: "Passion moves hearts, support moves hands. We have the passion, the hearts, and the hands: give us the support, and change will happen." Watch the highlight video of the Youth Forum 2024 here.
One of 2024’s most notable achievements was the development of Friends in Focus, an innovative peer-to-peer drug prevention programme designed to be used by youths, for youths. UNODC developed the prototype of this new programme through multiple peer-review processes with global experts in prevention science, and also notably involved young leaders active in the youth network of the Youth Initiative to provide feedback on the materials under development. As an evidence-informed programme, Friends in Focus aims to empower and help young people to build resilience by supporting them to recognize risk and protective factors, challenge normative beliefs about drugs, understand group dynamics, and embrace active bystander behaviors. UNODC sought to avail a tool and resource that would provide youth with the knowledge and skills to do good prevention work and have positive peer influences on their peers. Friends in Focus was featured during the 67th CND at the side event “Strengthening Resilience in Young People Towards the Misuse of Drugs and Alcohol”, the ISSUP 2024 Global Event, the 2024 EUSPR Conference, and many other events and webinars. With the prototype developed, UNODC will begin implementing pre-pilots of Friends in Focus in Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America in 2025 to test its feasibility and applicability.
Also, the continued contributions from the Drug Abuse Prevention Center (DAPC) enabled the funding of four new impactful projects in 2024, each beginning implementation in the Dominican Republic, India, Lebanon, and Nigeria. Additionally, a new call for DAPC grant proposals was launched in July 2024, whose grant recipients will be announced in 2025. These initiatives empower young people to take active roles in promoting health, prevention, and peer support while fostering enhanced community cohesion and connectedness.
In 2024, Youth Alumni remained actively involved in the Youth Initiative, offering valuable insights on substance use prevention and youth empowerment through diverse platforms and events. The Youth Initiative Magazine‘Butterfly Wings’, published in March, featured powerful youth contributions highlighting the importance of nurturing positive growth and empowering youth to lead themselves and future generations towards a brighter future. In addition, dedicated Youth Forum Alumni shared experiences from their respective youth-led drug prevention work, by contributing to a chapter in “Formación en Liderazgo Juvenil para la Prevención” (Youth Leadership Training for Prevention), which underscored the significance of youth engagement in substance use prevention. In August 2024, youth perspectives also enriched the discussions at the Technical Consultation Meeting on Social Media and Drug Use Prevention in Vienna, and as well as the International Youth Day online event hosted by UNODC.
We extend our sincere thanks to the youth participants, DAPC grantees, sponsors, and partners who have supported yet another successful year of the Youth Initiative. We eagerly anticipate 2025, with its promise of new opportunities to integrate youth perspectives into UNODC programmes and projects, and welcome more young leaders to this meaningful mission.
We wish you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year ahead. Happy Holidays!
