ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan
On 14 October 2026, UNRCCA convened a session of its Preventive Diplomacy Academy (PDA), in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), on drug trends, health and prevention, as well as trafficking in persons. The session brought together PDA participants from Central Asia and Afghanistan to examine these challenges and approaches to addressing them.
Drawing on the World Drug Report 2026 and findings from a Central Asian youth poll, Mr. Milos Stojanovic, Drug Control and Crime Prevention Officer at UNODC ROCA, presented global drug-use trends and regional perspectives on substance use and perceptions of health risks. The presentation highlighted the importance of prevention grounded in scientific evidence and adapted to young people’s needs and social environments.
Participants were also introduced to the UNODC-WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, with particular attention to practical approaches involving families, schools and communities. The presentation explored how developing social and emotional skills, strengthening supportive relationships and providing opportunities for meaningful participation can help reduce vulnerability.
The session further introduced the international legal framework for preventing and combating trafficking in persons, presented by Mr. Rustam Babayev, Officer-in-Charge and Senior Officer for Project Management Support at the UNODC Programme Office in Turkmenistan. He focused on the key elements of the legal definition of trafficking in persons, providing a foundation for understanding how exploitation is identified and addressed.
Through its cooperation with UNODC, the UNRCCA broadens participants’ understanding of the connections between health, human rights and community resilience, while exploring how young people can contribute to prevention efforts across the region.
