The International Federation of Green Crescent (IFGC) successfully held its 5th Ordinary General Assembly on April 1, 2025, bringing together representatives from national Green Crescent organizations across the globe. The Assembly marked an important milestone in the Federation’s journey, with the election of new leadership and governance bodies, the approval of key amendments to the IFGC Charter, and the admission of new member organizations. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Dinç was elected as the new President of IFGC, and Amb. Dr. Mehmet Güllüoğlu was appointed as Secretary General. The Federation extends its sincere appreciation to all member organizations for their active participation, valuable contributions, and continued dedication to a healthier, addiction-free world. The General Assembly also approved several amendments to the IFGC Charter to enhance organizational effectiveness, strengthen governance, and better respond to global public health challenges. Board Structures for the 2025–2027 Term Board of Directors – Permanent Members Türkiye – Türkiye Yeşilay Vakfı Bulgaria – Yeshilay Bulgaria Association Australia – Green Crescent Australia Türkiye – Türkiye Yeşilay Cemiyeti Uganda – Uganda Green Crescent Society Serbia – Zeleni Krst - Zeleni Polumsejec Syria – Suriye Yeşilay Derneği Indonesia – Yayasan Green Crescent Indonesia Dagestan (RF) – Green Crescent Board of Directors – Substitute Members Austria – Verein Neubeginn Suchtprävention Ethiopia – Ethiopian Green Crescent Organization Lebanon – Stardom Association (Al Najm) Azerbaijan – Zererli Verdişlere Qarşı İctimai Birliyi Jordan – The Jordan Anti Drugs Society Albania – Fondacioni "Yesilay" Thailand – Green Crescent Thailand Supervisory Board (2025–2027) Permanent Members Zambia – Green Crescent Zambia North Macedonia – Zdruzenie Jesilaj Na Rsm Iraq – Ibn Sina Foundation for Improvement and Sustainable Development North Cyprus – Kıbrıs Türk Yeşilay Derneği Bosnia and Herzegovina – Udruzenje Gradjana Zeleni Polumjesec u Bosni i Hercegovini Substitute Members Bangladesh – Health and Economy Morocco – Croisan Vert Morocain Kosovo – Kosova Yeşilay Cemiyeti (Shoqëria Hana e Gjelbërt e Kosovës) High Advisory Board (2025–2027) General President of IFGC Previous President of IFGC Malaysia – Pertubuhan Bulan Sabit Hijau Malaysia Nigeria – Green Crescent Health Development Initiative Brazil – Conectados Pela Vida Tunisia – Madinaty Kyrgyzstan – Caşıl Ay Koomu South Africa – Green Crescent South Africa Sri Lanka – Green Crescent Foundation With renewed leadership and strengthened international cooperation, the Federation continues to advance its mission of promoting public health and addiction prevention worldwide.

The 8th International Capacity Building Program, organized under the leadership of the International Federation of Green Crescent (IFGC) and hosted by the Turkish Green Crescent Society, successfully brought together civil society leaders and public health experts from around the world. Held between April 30 and May 2, 2025, at the Green Crescent Headquarters in Istanbul, the program welcomed 120 participants from 60 countries. Over the course of three days, participants engaged in 12 workshops led by field experts and benefited from insights shared by 42 distinguished speakers, including representatives from Country Green Crescents. Key topics included capacity development, project design, destigmatization in treatment and recovery, and international advocacy—offering a rich platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration in the field of addiction prevention. Day 1: Opening Remarks and Collaborative Spirit The event began with keynote speeches from the Turkish Green Crescent Society and the International Federation of Green Crescent. Delegates from different countries gathered to share their knowledge and experiences, sending a message of solidarity and cooperation. Morning sessions featured global experts discussing addiction treatment, recovery processes, volunteerism, and public health. Notable contributions came from Esbjorn Hornberg (Movendi International), Dr. Hamad Al Ghafri (International Society of Addiction Medicine), Dr. Dzmitry Krupchanka (World Health Organization), Karen Peters (UNODC), and Guglielmo Schinina (International Organization for Migration), who addressed topics ranging from global prevention strategies to substance use among displaced populations. The day continued with parallel training sessions focused on prevention strategies and concluded with a social gathering including a Bosphorus cruise and gala dinner at night. Day 2: Thematic Deep Dives and Country Spotlights The second day began with international panel sessions exploring topics such as tobacco control, alcohol policies, technology addiction, and the preventive role of civil society. Speakers including Cornel Radu-Loghin (European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention), Florence Berteletti (European Alcohol Policy Alliance), and Dr. Tasnim Atatrah (World Health Organization, Turkey Office) shared insights on policy coherence, multisectoral collaboration, and regional approaches. Through parallel workshops, participants engaged with themes relevant to their specific interests. Representatives from Green Crescent Health Development Initiative (Nigeria), Everest Green Crescent (Nepal), and Turkish Green Crescent Society presented successful practices and fieldwork examples, contributing to a robust exchange of on-the-ground experiences. Day 3: Education, Sustainability, and Gender Sensitivity The final day started with a session highlighting the role of trainers in awareness-raising efforts. The agenda moved on to key themes like sustainable financing, gender-sensitive approaches, and international educational collaborations. A workshop led by Jan Peloza (Impact Hub Ljubljana) focused on practical strategies for sustainable resource mobilization. Institutions like UNODC ROSEE, UN Women, Africa House, and the Maarif Foundation added depth to the discussions and emphasized collaborative pathways for future engagement. Green Crescents from Stardom Association (Lebanon), Pertubuhan Bulan Sabit Hijau Malaysia, and Thai Green Crescent shared innovative projects aimed at empowering youth, and enhancing intercultural collaboration. These presentations provided a wealth of practical insights, showcasing real-world impact and cross-border learning. If you want to reach the Program Agenda please click

The "Substance Addiction and Recovery: Practical Approaches from YEDAM for Intervention and Recovery" webinar, organized by the Green Crescent Counseling Center (YEDAM) and International Federation of Green Crescent for Country Green Crescents worldwide, was held on February 20, 2025. The program comprehensively addressed the psychological and social impacts of substance addiction, as well as evidence-based intervention methods. YEDAM Clinical Psychologist Özde Bingöl provided insights into structured approaches used in addiction recovery, explaining risk assessment, treatment planning, and post-recovery support processes. Following the presentation, Bingöl answered questions from Country Green Crescent representatives and other participants, elaborating on YEDAM’s approach to case studies. As the first webinar of 2025, this event aimed to raise awareness of substance addiction among Country Green Crescents. By the end of the session, the importance of promoting YEDAM’s comprehensive and effective intervention strategies across the International Federation of Green Crescents and adapting them to different countries was emphasized.