Concept Note - YAF 2024

The Youth Advocacy Forum established as a global platform that offers international experience and great opportunity for the youth across the globe. Contributing to the development of youth from various cultures and geographies of the world, the forum aims to enable youth to gain knowledge in the fields of critical thinking and advocacy and to gain competence in these areas with ongoing training, within the scope of the training of national and international speakers who are experts in their fields. This year we held the Fifth Youth Advocacy Forum!

"Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Products: An Overlooked Pandemic?

Organizer:

• Turkish Green Crescent

Co-organizer(s):

• UNODC
• WHO
• Istanbul Initiative
• Global Experts from Universities and Institutions

When& Where & Who

The Youth Advocacy Forum is organized annually for young people advocating from all over the world across 6 regions (African Region, Region of the Americas, South-East Asia Region, European Region, Eastern Mediterranean Region and Western Pacific Region) between the ages of 18 and 30 who have a background and interest in effective and science-driven prevention strategies around substance use and other risky behaviours, healthy life and youth work. Participants will seize invaluable opportunities for direct dialogue, asking questions, and commentary exchange.

Objectives

• Provide a platform for young people to meaningfully engage in a dialogue about substance use and other risky behaviours.
• Engage and learn with the global experts from the field to create pathways for realizing a sustainable and effective prevention plan and comprehensive system for substance use and other risky behaviour prevention.
• Promote the exchange of ideas and experience, mutual understanding, as well as equal rights and opportunities among young people.
• Enhance the capacity of young people on critical thinking, media literacy, active participation and advocacy.
• Increase the positive and meaningful participation of young people and youth organizations in society, as well as in decision-making processes at all levels including community, national and international venues.
• Empower youth to enable them to realize their rights & responsibilities for a healthy life, including abstinence from substance use, through education and skill development around the relevant topics.
• Foster youth action towards implementation of ideas brought forward by the young people for the benefit of the societies.
• Increase awareness of younger generations on the strategies of Big Alcohol, Big Tobacco, drug cartels, pharmaceutical companies, the cannabis industry and gaming and gambling industries.
• The new approach to legalization discussions: Decriminalization and Legalization in different countries, experiences from tobacco and alcohol use
• Encourage further cooperation, partnerships and good practice exchange among young people, youth workers, organizations and institutions dealing with youth policy in Sustainable Healthy Generations.

Format & Application Criteria

• The dialogue will take place in English, so an advanced level of speaking and writing in English is a must.
• Prospective participants should meet the criterion of having a stable internet connection, since the forum will be held online.