News
Putting Community First: Reflections from the “Community in Scope” workshop
This blog was written by Teresa Castro (International Working Group member) June 30 – July 2, 2025 – Berlin, Germany As a member of Youth RISE’s International Working Group, I was one of the civil society members selected for “Community in Scope: A Workshop on HIV Combination Prevention”, part of the SCOPE project from the…
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Sowing Change, Harvesting Justice: Youth RISE Reflections from HR25 in Bogotá
Returning from the Harm Reduction International Conference 2025 (HR25) in Bogotá, our Youth RISE team is filled with gratitude, energy, and renewed determination. HR25 was more than just a conference—it was a global gathering where young advocates, researchers, and people with lived experience came together to discuss and shape the future of harm reduction and…
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Youth RISE at the 68th Commission on Narcotic Drugs
From March 10th to 14th, 2025, Rebeca Marques, Teresa Castro, and Rebeca Calzada, members of Youth RISE attended the 68th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs held at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria. The CND is a unique space-time bubble where government representatives, UN agencies, civil society advocates, and donors meet to observe,…
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Open Call for Contributions: Photographic Exhibition at the Harm Reduction International Conference 2025
Young voices are crucial in shaping the future of harm reduction and drug policy. Youth RISE, together with Prevencasa, Dr. Lisa Williams (Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester) and Harm Reduction International invites young people (ages 18-30) from Latin America and around the world to contribute their stories and images for a photographic exhibition…
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Youth RISE presents the report “Catalysts for Change: Youth-Driven Insights in Opioid Harm Reduction”
Presentación del reporte de Youth RISE “Catalysts for Change: Youth-Driven Insights in Opioid Harm Reduction” Youth RISE conducted a research working group on Young People Who Use Opioids (YPWUO) during November and December 2023. In March 2024, the report was released on Youth RISE’s website. Key findings from this report were also presented during a…
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“I wish they had told us how to be safe” – Building a better drug education with young people
Written by: Andre Belchior Gomes EXECUTIVE SUMMARY There is ample evidence that young people consistently use drugs at higher rates than their older counterparts. An effective drug education that prepares students to make safe choices around drugs – whether they use them or not – is needed. Most of the UK’s education around drugs tends…
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A Call for Inclusive Drug Policy Reform at the United Nations Civil Society Conference
Written by Isaac Olushola (Global Fund Project Manager) | isaac@youthrise.org Young people are currently a demographic representing the largest generation in history—1.8 billion young people. There is an urgent need to include our voices in critical policy-shaping forums such as the United Nations Civil Society Conference. May 9-10, 2024 (Nairobi, Kenya) – last month, I…
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Youth RISE and Paradigma Coalition Advocate for Decriminalization and Human Rights on side event during the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
Vienna, May 15, 2024– Youth RISE and the Paradigma Coalition are proud to announce their active participation in a significant side event organized by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). ABOUT THE EVENT This side event brought together key stakeholders to discuss human rights…
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