UNODC holds workshop on life skills for youths

In the framework of the implementation of the Global Programme for the Doha Declaration, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) organised a training workshop in Vienna on life skills using sports in order to prevent crime among youths.
The programme was held on Monday with participation of representatives of the FIFA and the support of the State of Qatar. The executive director of UNODC and a number of staff members of the office, as well as the representative of the State of Qatar, and a gathering of officials, experts and representatives of the authorities concerned attended.
The new initiative named ‘Line up Live up’ is part of Doha Declaration Global Programme’s operational projects, with the aim of promoting the role of sport in youth crimes prevention. Teams of young people who have received training within the Doha Declaration projects led the workshop to provide skills and training to protect young people from the dangers of crime, violence and drug abuse.
Major General Abdullah Yusuf al-Mal, adviser to HE the Minister of Interior and chairman of the Doha Declaration Follow-up Committee, presented the Qatari side’s speech at the opening ceremony, expressing his country’s support for the work of the UNODC to prevent youth crimes through sport.
He added that sport is an essential tool for preventing young people from crime and drugs, as well as being a real means of establishing a culture of respect for law, peace and rapprochement between peoples.
Through this initiative, UNODC, in collaboration with other partners and experts in the world, is supporting member states to provide an opportunity for young people at risk to protect them from crime, violence and drugs and transform them into pioneers in their societies as they spread sports values and noble principles, so as to present their experience to the youth of the world, said Dr al-Mal. He urged member states to communicate with the UNODC to disseminate the impact of the initiative as widely as possible.
In his speech, Yuri Fedotov, executive director, UNODC, stressed the importance of the Global Programme for the implementation of the Doha Declaration.
He pointed out that the event was an accomplishment and embodiment of one of the four pillars of the Doha Declaration issued at the 13th UN Crime Congress held in Doha in
April 2015.
“The Doha Declaration, adopted at the 13th Crime Congress, recognises young people as agents for change in crime prevention effort,” he said, adding that the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development highlights sport as a tool for peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect.
“Line up Live up” is a training curriculum we are developing to build the resilience of at-risk youth by drawing on sports as a vehicle to reduce anti-social behaviour and teach valuable life skills, he noted.
The training began with the first whistle by the UNODC executive director and Major General al-Mal kicked the ball to one of the team members.