We are thrilled to announce the publication of our 2022 Annual Report of Activities. Last year was of significant growth and change for Youth RISE. The report provides an in-depth overview of the organization’s achievements, initiatives, and impactful work throughout the year. We are proud of our team’s hard work and dedication, which has positioned us for continued success in the future.
The 2022 Annual Report showcases our accomplishments and ongoing commitment to promoting the well-being and empowerment of young people who use drugs worldwide. It serves as a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of the organization’s staff, volunteers, partners, and the incredible youth activists who continue to drive positive change.
One of the major activities carried out in 2022 was the development and launch of our research on and by young sex workers who use drugs. The document “Young Sex Workers Who Use Drugs” aimed to understand the experiences of young sex workers who use drugs and the unique challenges they face. The research sheds light on how young sex workers who use drugs often experience multiple forms of discrimination and marginalization, including stigma, violence, and criminalization. The research emphasized the need for a harm reduction approach that prioritizes the health and well-being of young sex workers who use drugs and calls for the decriminalization of sex work and drug use.
In addition, Youth RISE also carried out a series of webinars and online training series on various topics related to harm reduction and drug policy. Our series “Train the Trainer” provided onsite regional training on access to justice and international online workshops on harm reduction. The series touched upon topics such as access to justice for young people and other inadequately served populations and equipped attendants to become trained members that could pass on their knowledge to their community peers. Additionally, our participation in the Erasmus+ EU Drug Policy Training & Strategy Series for Young People allowed us to equip young people with a deeper understanding of drug policies and advocacy strategies on a regional scale. These webinars and training sessions were designed to increase the knowledge and skills of young harm reduction advocates and provide them with a platform to share their experiences and ideas.
In 2022, we also developed and published a comprehensive list of resources specially developed to equip and empower young people. The handbook “Making Politics Work for Young People” provides a guide on how to conduct drug policy reform and harm reduction advocacy with decision-makers as a young person. The publication “Accessing Illegal Hormones” provides information and guidance for transgender and gender-diverse people who are accessing illegal hormone therapy, offering practical advice on how to access safe and affordable hormone therapy, as well as how to reduce the risks associated with illegal hormone use. The resource “Harm Reduction Services for Young People” summarized recommendations for harm reduction service providers who are willing to engage with and provide services to young people who inject drugs, offering practical guidance on how to develop harm reduction services that are tailored to the needs of young people, including the provision of needle and syringe programs, overdose prevention, and drug treatment services. Finally, the toolkit “Drugs and Mental Health”, a project initiated in 2021 and fully concretized in 2022, explores the relationship between drug use and mental health, providing an overview of the common mental health issues that are associated with drug use, as well as practical advice on how to manage these issues. It also explores the ways in which drug policies can impact mental health outcomes for people who use drugs.
The publications developed by Youth RISE in 2022 provide valuable insights and practical guidance on a range of issues related to drug use, harm reduction, and drug policy. They offer evidence-based recommendations for harm reduction service providers, people who use drugs, and policymakers and contribute to the ongoing conversation around drug policy reform and harm reduction efforts.
Furthermore, Youth RISE continued to participate in various international conferences and events related to drug policy and harm reduction. In 2022, the organization was able to participate in the virtual meeting of the 65th session Commission on Narcotic Drugs, where it was able to share its experiences and advocate for youth inclusion in drug policy discussions.
As we look back on the past year, we are deeply grateful for our partner organisations, peers and the unwavering support of our generous sponsors from the Robert Carr Fund, the Global Fund, and the European Commission.
Access the full 2022 Annual Report of Activities here.