Within the scope of our global youth project, the Youth Advocacy Forum brought together young people from different cultures, religions, languages, and nationalities from around the world in 2024, marking the fifth forum held. Participants came from six regions: the African Region, the Region of the Americas, the South-East Asia Region, the European Region, the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and the Western Pacific Region. Young people aged 18 to 30 gathered to improve their advocacy skills in preventing addictions and promoting healthy lifestyles.
The forum took place online on 21 August 2024 with the main theme of “Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Products: An Overlooked Pandemic?” In the forum, where the global policies were discussed and local as well as international agendas of advocacy were improved, international experts in their field and powerful organizations such as the Lung Foundation, Netherlands and Smoke Free Partnership participated.
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 are holding the Fourth Youth Advocacy Forum !
Organizer:
Turkish Green Crescent
Co-organizer(s):
UNODC
WHO
Istanbul Initiative
Global Experts from Universities and Institutions
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.
Substantive Scope
The Youth Advocacy Forum titled “Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Products: An Overlooked Epidemic” will offer a vital platform for young people, youth workers, and stakeholders to come together and engage in critical discussions around the health and environmental implications of electronic cigarette use. Participants will connect with experts and advocates from various fields, sharing insights and fostering networks for future initiatives. This forum will provide a unique opportunity to influence policies and programs that address the challenges posed by electronic products, with the aim of enhancing youth strategies globally.
Guided by the themes of health, environment, and advocacy, participants will engage in interactive discussions on the following topics:
1. Electronic Cigarette Policies and Health Effects:
• Exploration of recent developments in electronic cigarette policies in the Netherlands and their implications for public health. • Examination of the health impacts associated with vaping products and their rising popularity among youth.
2. Environmental Challenges of Electronic-Cigarettes:
• Discussion on the environmental threats posed by electronic-cigarette waste, including plastic pollution and other ecological consequences. • Identification of strategies to mitigate these environmental risks through sustainable practices.
3. Marketing Strategies Targeting Youth:
• Analysis of marketing tactics employed to promote e-cigarettes to young people, highlighting the effectiveness and ethical considerations of these strategies. • Discussion on the role of advocacy in combatting manipulative marketing practices.
4. Personal Advocacy Journeys:
• Insights from youth advocates on their personal experiences and calls to action in addressing the electronic-cigarette epidemic. • Sharing of best practices for engaging peers in advocacy efforts and community awareness.
5. Cultural Perspectives on Electronic-Cigarette Use:
• Examination of how language and societal norms influence perceptions and behaviors related to electronic-cigarettes across different cultures. • Discussion on the importance of culturally sensitive approaches in advocacy and policymaking.
The forum aimed to empower participants to take informed actions and influence future policies surrounding electronic-cigarettes and vaping products, ensuring the health and well-being of youth and communities worldwide.
Format & Application Criteria
The Forum will include a series of interactive plenary sessions with high-level representatives and experts from NGOs, International Organizations, government institutions, global youth organizations and other keynote speakers on the emerging priority areas for the decade of action, with a focus on youth. These sessions will be led by the experts of the relevant sessions.
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.
