Green Crescent () is a

non-profit organisation A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

that fights smoking, alcohol, and other addictions such as drug use, and provides services and protection methods to all citizens, especially the young, affected by harmful habits. It was established on 5 March 1920 in

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

. One of its chairs was

Ayhan Songar Ayhan Songar (1926–1997) was a Turkish academic and psychiatrist. He is also known for his activities in sufism, music, cybernetics and photography. He was part of the conservative think thank Intellectuals' Hearth (IH) and headed the Green C ...

Memberships of international organisations

As of 2015, the Green Crescent is a member of the following: *Board of Directors of Europe Against Drugs (EURAD), *Board of Directors of European Alcohol Policy Alliance (EUROCARE), *International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP), *has special consultative status with the United Nations Economic Social Council (ECOSOC), *Vienna NGO Committee, the civilian network of the UN Office On Drugs and Crime (UNODC), *International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), *Avicenna Health Association formed within the body of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in order to conduct activities in the field of health policies, *president of the Addiction Working Group, consisting of doctors from many countries, within the body of the Federation of Islamic Medical Associations (FIMA), *International Silk Road Medical Research Center based in the People’s Republic of China.

Global reach

An initiative is underway to gather national Green Crescents of various countries under one roof as the World Green Crescents Federation based in Istanbul.

References

Organizations established in 1920 Organizations based in Istanbul 1920 establishments in the Ottoman Empire {{Turkey-org-stub