Youth Initiative

Youth Forum 2024

During 12-14 March 2024, UNODC hosted the annual Youth Forum on the sidelines of the 67^th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). The Youth Forum 2024 gathered 35 youth participants from 27 countries, coming in with strong interest in helping their communities thrive by enabling a healthier and safer space for children and youth to grow. For three days, youth leaders had the opportunity to be actively engaged in thematic discussions and learn from each other’s perspectives and best practices from their communities. They also enhanced their knowledge, attending various sessions on evidence-based prevention, participated in interactive group activities, and had the opportunity to attend side events of the High-Level segment of the 67^th CND. The Youth Forum served as a platform of exchange and connection, in the hopes of sparking ideas and thoughts for new youth-led initiatives that will safeguard the health and well-being of future generations, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.5.

The youth leaders were warmly welcomed by UNODC Executive Director Ms. Ghada Waly, and urged by the Director of Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, Mr. Jean-Luc Lemahieu to seize the 3-days as a window of opportunity to learn and engage. The Youth Alumni from the Youth Forum 2023 and members of Young UN Vienna also welcomed the youth of 2024 to their journey ahead and shared their warm wishes in the youth participants’ positive engagement throughout the Youth Forum and beyond. UNODC hopes that this Youth Forum was a meaningful step in the participants’ journey in prevention work that will encourage the next steps to come!

UNODC would like to thank the Permanent Missions of Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Ghana, Greece, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Montenegro, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Tanzania, Thailand, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela for nominating young people to participate in the Youth Forum 2024.

UNODC is committed to work with youth, empowering them to not only be better equipped to face tomorrow’s challenges, but also be part of tomorrow’s solutions, and looks forward to working in partnership with youths to shape a healthier world for future generations.

Report

Organized in-person from 12 to 14 March 2024 in Vienna (Austria), this year’s Youth Forum brought together 35 young leaders from 27 countries to learn about evidence-based drug use prevention, discuss their perspectives on the world drug problem, and be empowered to embark on or continue action on drug use prevention and health promotion. And, customary to the tradition of the Youth Forum, the youth were welcomed back to the Plenary session of the 67th Commission on Narcotic Drugs to address the global policymakers and present their views.

Read the full report here.

Watch the highlights video here.

Youth Statement Video

Youth Statement 2024 at the Opening Ceremony of the 67th Session of the CND

Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen,

We stand before you today as 35 youths from 27 countries, noting with great concern the issue of substance use and the grave consequences which it brings. Substance use is not only detrimental to individual health and well-being, but it also worsens many aspects of our society. Our commitment to substance use prevention can ensure better health outcomes, reduced poverty rates and social stability.

We bring forth the significance of addressing the root causes and vulnerabilities behind substance use to effectively implement sustainable solutions. We understand that resources are scarce, and emphasize the pivotal role that evidence-based prevention can play to ensure a maximal effective result, and foster a foundation for long-term social well-being and individual flourishing.

In the context of substance use prevention, an approach based on evidence can and will, give us guidance and support to achieve our goal. By prioritizing early prevention initiatives that foster healthy development, global productivity and prosperity can be increased to ensure sustainable creation of healthier lifestyles. In this process, no one should be left behind.

Witnessing the detrimental impact of substance use on our peers has reminded us of the urgent need for action. Ensuring youth engagement in evidence-based substance use prevention can catalyse positive change, injecting fresh perspectives into the veins of our society. By providing youths with various leadership roles, skills development and peer support networks through youth-led organisations, peer-to-peer education, mentorship, and social media, we can pave the way for a better tomorrow.

Youth can be a powerful source of empathy and support for the community. Yet, without your support, this is not enough. So we call on you, decision-makers, to put yourselves into our shoes, and when signing each drug-related policy, picture how it feels to be young and see our futures fall to conditions and situations that we cannot control.

We urge Member States to increase youth engagement in science-based prevention interventions. It is your responsibility to reduce the power dynamics between young people and adults, ensuring that we feel empowered to act as your equal counterparts. To do so, we must be provided with a socially relevant platform - a voice of our own, through which we can finally make ourselves be heard.

Our call is for Member States to help us in: building the foundations for structured and systematic youth-led action; providing infrastructure, opportunities and conditions to equally empower youth to make informed and consent-based decisions; and implementing prevention efforts regardless of abilities, languages, and cultural differences. We urge decision-makers to closely collaborate with local NGOs, social groups, schools and universities to provide substantial support, such as but not limited to, funding, knowledge and skills.

Our message and call to action is to prioritise drug use prevention, especially among youths, and to invest in evidence-based, early, and youth-centred prevention strategies. By working together and empowering young people to care for health and well-being, we can create a brighter and healthier future for all.

Passion moves hearts, support moves hands. We have the passion, the heart and the hands: give us the support and change will happen.

Meet the Participants!

Before delving into the substantive discussions and learnings on substance use prevention, the participants are actively engaging with one another. They're taking the time to introduce themselves, make connections, and explore common interests. This pre-forum period serves as the opportunity for youths to establish a sense of community and reflect why their participation in the Youth Forum is meaningful for them.

Asking the Participants

As we prepare for the upcoming UNODC Youth Forum 2024 in Vienna, we're excited to kickstart the conversations early on. Youths are sharing their thoughts and experiences through video messages. This pre-forum task serves as an opportunity for us to delve into the perspectives of the Youth Forum participants and pave the way for meaningful discussions in Vienna. Let's e-meet them and delve into their perspectives as we collectively strive for positive change.

Becoming an Inspiration

The Youth Forum provides a platform for today's young leaders to exchange ideas, particularly on how to be more meaningfully engaged, share their accomplishments, and outline their future plans. The young leaders have shared their efforts towards drug prevention in their communities, highlighting challenges faced, strategies implemented, and outcomes achieved.

Group Get-togethers!

One of the primary highlights of participating in the Youth Forum is the opportunity to connect with fellow young leaders who share a commitment to positive change. Prior to the Youth Forum 2024, participants e-met in small groups to engage in virtual ice-breaking activities to get to know each other before meeting in person in Vienna. Through networking and sharing experiences, youth not only exchange ideas but also cultivate supportive relationships that can contribute to personal and collective growth!

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime