Youth Pre-Conference Workshop

On 17-18 March 2015, a Youth Pre-Conference Workshop will be held at the ADNEC conference centre for young people from Abu Dhabi, the Middle East and other parts of the world. This workshop will aim to empower the young participants by building their leadership and advocacy skills and provide a common networking platform for tobacco control campaigns through exchange and mentorship opportunities. The workshop outcomes will be presented to the WCTOH delegates as recommendations from the youth delegates to the global tobacco control fraternity.

During the first day, tobacco control experts from across the world will interact with the selected young delegates (aged 18 to 30 years) to deliberate with them on the current tobacco control scenario and envision innovative methods to put an end to tobacco. Goals include building their capacity to use surveillance data on tobacco trends and to engage in advocacy efforts calling for policy action. The workshop will highlight the unique challenges posed by trends in tobacco use among young people, including the use of shisha smoking, hookahs, smokeless tobacco, flavoured cigarettes and bidis.

During the second day, participants will attend the Update on the FCTC and MPOWER day-long symposium. 

Please note: This is a closed meeting. Participation in the Youth Pre-Conference Workshop is limited to the pre-registered youth delegates.

Participants in the workshop were selected based on the following criteria: 

  • Age between 18-30 years
  • Affiliation with  a tobacco control / health / development organisation
  • Work or live in a low- or middle-income country (see list of eligible countries here)
  • Have no affiliations to the tobacco industry
  • Demonstrate experience/knowledge in advocacy campaign on tobacco control / other health issues
  • Experience playing a leadership role at school or university / in a community setting / other
  • Reasonable knowledge of English
  • In a position to implement learnt strategies upon return to home country

Please note that applications for this workshop closed on 14 November 2014.