Substance use remains a persistent and complex issue that communities face worldwide, with young people using more drugs than adults and having higher levels of use than in past generations (UNODC World Drug Report 2022). UNODC recognizes that prevention is a crucial factor in addressing the world drug problem, and that investing in the healthy and safe development of children and youth is key.
The UNODC Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) supports Member States in the MENA region to be safer from drugs, organized crime, corruption, and terrorism. And with the aim of supporting national responses towards enhancing youth resilience to drugs, crime and violence, a regional workshop was held on 18 March for policymakers from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine and Sudan. Organized under the "Youth4Impact" regional programme, the workshop also actively involved youth delegates from the participating countries to facilitate their engagement in the decision-making process and thereby strengthen their role as policymakers. And UNODC was pleasantly surprised that some of the youth delegates were no other than the Youth Alumni (previous participants) of the recent UNODC Youth Fora.
Participants exchanged experiences and challenges related to national youth policies, learned about preventing drug use, violence and crime amongst youth, the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention and related guidance on crime prevention, and discussed gaps and necessary interventions to improve the national and regional response on these areas. Youths contributed to discussions on developing recommendations regarding policy components that need consideration when developing national youth strategies, and on how to successfully implement them.
It is empowering to see avid youth leaders continue to be motivated in promoting drug use prevention in their communities and be meaningfully involved in policy-making discussions in their regions, after their learning experience with the UNODC Youth Forum. We hope their discussions and recommendations made during the workshop come to fruitful outcomes and that they continue in their journey of supporting their peers in living healthier, safer, and more empowered lives.
