INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST DRUG ABUSE AND ILLICIT TRAFFICKING: ‘MAKE HEALTH YOUR 'NEW HIGH' IN LIFE, NOT DRUGS’

There has been considerable concern about the perceived number of young people around the world who are using illicit psychoactive substances. The widespread concern about the use and abuse of illicit drugs is reflected by its high status on health, educational and political agendas in many countries.

In 2010 alone, around 210 million people, youth inclusive, were predicted to take illicit substances at least once, causing drug-trafficking to be one of the largest criminal offence that brings in the most significant social impact to the communities. If strategies to reduce the use of drugs and associated harms amongst the younger population are to be developed, particularly within the health education arena, it is vital that we improve our understanding of the roles that both licit and illicit substances play in the lives of young people.

Illicit drug trade is not only confined to the supply and demand but starts from cultivation offering young people new opportunities to participate. Research has shown that drug cultivators are a very diverse group: although cultivation is the most prevalent money-generating crime for gang members, girls and otherwise conventional youth are also involved in high numbers. There is therefore a need to design policies that concern not just the prevention of drug use among youth, but also youth involvement in the supply of drugs.

  

World Assembly of Youth (WAY) articulate that youth are the central actors and vehicle for change. Any program to curb drug abuse and its trafficking must bear in mind that change starts with the involvement and participation of youth in the formulation and implementation of activities designed to wean and dislodge them from drug use and trafficking. The youth and their peer groups’ perspectives of their involvement in drug sale and trafficking are crucial inputs to the design of program strategies and techniques for any anti-drug programs. Research with a focus on young people has sought to identify motives for illicit drug use.

Support of community officials and institutions is a key factor in the success and replication of any activity to curb drug use and its trade.  Therefore, we assert that Government policies and programs must also recognize the central roles of the community officials and institutions. These policies should also support gender sensitive drug issues.

The policies and programs developed should also recognize the need for protection and support for youth drug users especially in relation to their health. In light of this year’s theme, Make Health Your 'New High' In Life, Not Drugs, we feel that it is necessary to raise the awareness and advocate for the importance of having a healthy body and mind for the young people.

Together we can make it happen and have a world free from the abuse of drugs, and individuals free of drug dependence who can contribute to our common future. It takes a man’s faith to believe that it can happen and action to bring it to pass so let us all have common conviction for the good of our own health, youth and communities.

Source: WAY

INTERNATIONAL DAY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE: ‘REHABILITATION, A KEY TO RE-INTEGRATION’

To deliberately inflict pain on another human being is the most animalistic human trait by far. Everyone has the right to be mentally and physically freed from any form of torture. It is time the world stood together to put this ill treatment to a total halt.

It is disheartening that this sinister act is still happening, and could be going on in our backyards without even knowing. The United Nations has condemned the act of torture as one of the vilest and irresponsible actions committed by human beings to each other.  To further express their support towards the victims of torture,  they have specially chosen 26^th June annually as International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. This year’s theme is rehabilitation, which is selected to acknowledge its pivotal function to reintegrate the victims back to societies.

The truth is that young victims frequently encounter difficulties during the rehabilitation process. This is often caused by the difference in age between the rehabilitators and the young victims of torture. The margin between their ages makes it hard for them to relate to each other. It is therefore advisable that the rehabilitation teams should include youth so as to eliminate communication barriers.

In line with that, World Assembly of Youth (WAY), urge young people from all around the world to jointly commit themselves in volunteering activities especially those related to rehabilitation of tortured victims. Utilizing young volunteers in rehabilitative facilities will not only give them a precise picture about the disadvantages of torturing related acts but also give victims an approachable role model so that the reintegrating process will be easier to be achieved. After all, rehabilitation is a key to reintegration; rehabilitation will prepare victims of torture, build back their confidence and equip them with necessary skills before they are ready to be reintegrated back to their societies.

Today, let us be a part of the movement in support of victims of torture and their road to healing. Join us to promote solidarity, eliminate any form of pain inflicting act, and raise international corporations to assist victims of torture by addressing its causes and restoring the well-being of the victims.

Together we can bring lasting solutions to end torture throughout the world and to ensure torture victims get the necessary help through rehabilitation. Choose to be part of these solutions

WAY 

WORLD REFUGEE DAY: “REAL PEOPLE, REAL NEEDS”

It is a priceless blessing to bask in the freedom to live; the provision to basic amenities of a home; reliable protection; access to transportation. 

In practice, not everyone is as fortunate as us; millions of refugees migrate for reasons of safety or civil rights from their own country. They are usually in danger of losing their life. Humanities basic rights and safety are at risk. They leave because of the exposure to war, danger or the threat of imprisonment to themselves or their loved ones. They have no choice but to leave if they want to continue to live. Driven into a state of depression, starvation and fear, many refugees, from women to children inclusive, have to live in the poorest conditions and are even forced to seek asylum in different areas. This certainly is distressing as refugees have often been misunderstood or largely ignored by the international community therefore, attracting little of the public’s attention.

Reports today have expressed concern of the fragility of the refugee experience underlined by situations in Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and Syria, causing  7.6 million people to became refugees in 2012; the total number now greater than at any time since 1994. In light of this and other similar cases, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has specially chosen 20^th June as the World Refugee Day to globally express the concern of societies towards such vulnerable groups and assist them to begin their lives afresh.

It is through little things and very personal anecdotes which often define a magical turning point when refugees who may have spent years or even decades in flight and in refugee camps suddenly realize that a new better life has just begun. As young people comprise a growing percentage of the total number of refugees in the world, we at World Assembly of Youth (WAY), join other organizations on this day in acknowledging refugees as well as aid officials from all around the world. We extend our encouragement, support and respect to their strength to sustain, persist and struggle against suffering. 

We call upon partners to assist us in improving collaboration between humanitarian and development actors at all levels. Such partners will prove beneficial in order to assist in becoming involved in areas where there is a clear link to economic growth. Indeed, if refugees could be seen as ‘agents of development’ rather than as burdens.

In order to implement this, we believe the first step would be to see refugees as agents of change and being able to fulfill their potential. This can only be achieved by involving government ministries, international organizations and international dialogues. Bringing forth the issue will require that development actors at all levels be informed to the fact that refugees require wider engagement by the stakeholders.

During the development of initiatives, targeted development assistance should be united to promote refugee protection and durable solutions taking place on a bilateral level, an interregional level, or a multilateral level.

However, we have confidence that a multilateral dialogue provides a context within which an overarching discussion of ‘best practices’ could take place and basic principles agreed upon in order to assist these people meet their basic needs.

Happy World Refugee Day!

Source: WAY

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: “THINK, EAT, SAVE!”

Did you know that every night, when we rest soundly, 1 in 7 people go to bed hungry? Even worse, every day, 20,000 children under the age of 5 die from hunger; while in another part of the world, people, youth inclusive, tend to waste their food.

Based on a survey conducted by UN Food and Agriculture Organization, approximately 1.3 billion tons of food is annually thrown away. While food-resources are scarce and limited to sustain world-population which currently reaches 7 billion people and is still expected to grow, most of us seem to fail to appreciate the value of foods. Considering these and other facts, the World Environment Day this year has been themed ‘Think, Eat, Save’ with the purpose to raise global awareness to take positive actions and initiations in sustaining food resources.

We at the World Assembly of Youth (WAY), on several occasions have deliberated on the provision of necessary basic resources to youth. One of the concerns that we aim to tackle is clearly highlighted in the WAY Millennium Plan of Action 3 (MPAC 3), goal 2 in which we are working and planning necessary actions to reduce the number of people affected by hunger and malnutrition. In our work, we especially advocate that all stakeholders mobilize the youth, educate them on the urgency of sustainable development issues while encouraging them to involve themselves in the negotiation process and engage them in simulations that encourage other societies to jump onto the bandwagon to host their own simulations, albeit from a distance. We trust that once everyone is conversant with the issue, we will come up with innovative ideas that can restructure the current processes and restore hope in them.

In this manner, we can engage the youth locally and get them to THINK of how to provide adequate results, encourage them to EAT healthy while supporting to SAVE the environment.  In our opinion,  this way gives people the opportunity to get involved and experience a reality-like negotiation where they can be the action doers. You can start today, before you order in or cook your meal, we urge you to consider the quantity of food by thinking smartly instead of a good deal. By doing so, you will have contributed in reducing food-waste, saving money, and also minimizing the environmental impact of food production.

So, remember to THINK before you EAT and you might be able to SAVE lives!

Happy World Environment Day!

Source:WAY