TASHKENT Uzbekistan

The Preventive Diplomacy Academy (PDA) students participated in the UN Joint Event on "Strengthening the Role of Youth in Prevention and Response Mechanisms for a Sustainable Future", which took place on 27 November in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The event was developed jointly with the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Turkmenistan. Ten students of the PDA and their colleagues from the UNODC Youth Network in Uzbekistan took part in a one-day interactive workshop to discuss the possibilities of youth empowerment and find common goals and objectives.

Mr Alisher Sadullaev from the Agency for Youth Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan opened the event. Mr. Ayubkhon Fayzullaev from the Association of Mahallas (independent activity of citizens to resolve issues of local importance, guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, based on their interests, historical features of development, as well as national and spiritual values, local customs and traditions) of Uzbekistan explained the importance of youth participation in various spheres of public life. Mr Oliver Stolpe, UNODC Regional Representative for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan, spoke about the crucial role of youth in implementing the UNODC regional strategy. Mr Andriy Larin, UNRCCA Political Adviser, shared his experience in engaging youth in preventive diplomacy in the region. Mr Kemal Goshliyev, UNFPA Representative in Turkmenistan, emphasized the role of the family in developing society and women's empowerment in regional initiatives.

Young people from Central Asian countries presented their regional networks, their main areas of activity, and the results they have achieved. They found the information provided about UN agencies and missions, their activities, and strategies for implementing their respective mandates in the region important and necessary.

During this joint event, Mr Milos Stojanovic, UNODC Regional Health Adviser for ROCA, led a discussion on the theory of change and the value of programmatic orientations.

The workshop participants continued the session by developing their own target strategies on three proposed topics:

-strengthening prevention measures among young people against drug use, crime, corruption and violent extremism;

-empowering girls and women in regional youth initiatives;

-the role of young people in maintaining peaceful dialogue and relevant strategies in the Central Asian region.

The session resulted in the adoption of documents reflecting priorities and desired results on the identified issues. Such activities increase young people's potential and improve interpersonal contacts, serving to realize their potential in all spheres of life in the region.