We have recently been made aware that the name and web site address for UNODC's Global Youth Network are being used as part of an invitation for conferences. UNODC is in no way involved in these conferences. Additionally, UNODC does not require money to be sent for participation in UNODC-sponsored meetings. If you receive an invitation involving a UNODC conference,
please verify with us .

The Global Youth Network project is run by UNODC to increase youth involvement with the international community in developing drug abuse prevention policies and programmes. We hope to create a community of interest among youth and youth workers in the field of drug abuse prevention. The network has three main objectives: increase communication between youth groups and UNODC, collect and disseminate information on good practices and build the capacity of youth groups across the world to successfully conceptualise and implement drug abuse prevention projects. Do you want to get to know us better?

By visiting our 'Taking Action' page, you will access all the publications on how to do prevention created by the network. Members of the network have been meeting and discussing 'what works' and 'what doesn't work' with regard to various prevention issues on the basis of both their experience and a summary of the international academic literature. Their work has become a series of publications, available in all UN languages ... we really hope they will be of use and inspiration to you too!

 
UNODC (then UNDCP) started involving young people in the development of prevention activities in 1997 by mobilizing a number of innovative youth programmes around the world. The Youth Vision Jeunesse Drug Abuse Prevention Forum held in April 1998 in Banff, Alberta (Canada), provided an opportunity for several youth programmes to share their ideas about how to prevent drug abuse. These ideas and proposals were brought to the attention of government leaders during the Special Session of the General Assembly on the World Drug Problem in 1998 through a charter called "The Vision from Banff" (in Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Russian).

One of the needs articulated in this charter was the creation of a worldwide network for youth to remain in contact and to continue to learn from each other. The network would provide access to up-to-date materials and information on effective methods of drug abuse prevention among youth. This was the genesis of the Global Youth Network.

The Canadian Rockies: What happened at Banff? Vibrant and active youth groups from across the world descended on the quiet mountain town of Banff in the Canadian Rockies in the second week of April, 1998. For five days the howling mountain winds were replaced by bright voices in myriads of accents as the youth talked and talked before going dancing, skiing, and "hanging out." Groups that used techniques as diverse as dance, music, the internet, graffiti, drama and sport for drug abuse prevention met together to exchange and forge a common vision to be sent to the world leaders meeting in New York in June. Here you can find more details on the Banff Forum.  Reaction to the Vision The United Nations General Assembly met for a special session on drugs in June of 1998. Six youth were invited to present the Vision from Banff to the Secretary General and to participate in various sessions during the meeting. Mr. Annan passed on the message to leaders of the world, and this is what some of them had to say about the Vision from Banff: Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Canada, Cuba, Germany, Italy, Laos, Ukraine, USA, The United Nations.

(PDF- 4,139KB) BANFF PLUS Special Report in English, French and Spanis

... to find out more about some of the groups that are already part of the network! Some details may be missing.

 
You can apply online:
English online form

French online form

Spanish online form

or by filling the questionnaire (in Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Russian (PDF format) 
Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Russian (Word format) and sending it to us at:

Global Youth Network Team
Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Address: PO Box 500, A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Fax: +43-1-26060 5928
Email: youthmail@unodc.org

 
We have six, all around the world, each one with its own website.
You can find their links in the page of the regional networks.