Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the official global launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021 – 2030 along with its Global Plan. 

We republished the article here: 

In September 2020, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/74/299 “Improving global road safety”, proclaiming the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, with the ambitious target of preventing at least 50% of road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. WHO and the UN regional commissions, in cooperation with other partners in the UN Road Safety Collaboration, have developed a Global Plan for the Decade of Action, to be released in October 2021.   

The Global Plan aligns with the Stockholm Declaration, by emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to road safety, and calling on continued improvements in the design of roads and vehicles; enhancement of laws and law enforcement; and provision of timely, life-saving emergency care for the injured. 

The Global Plan also reflects the Stockholm Declaration’s promotion of policies to promote walking, cycling and using public transport as inherently healthy and environmentally sound modes of transport. Progress made during the previous Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 has laid the foundation for accelerated action in the years ahead. Among achievements are inclusion of road safety on the global health and development agenda, broad dissemination of scientific guidance on what works, strengthening of partnerships and networks, and mobilization of resources. This new Decade of Action provides an opportunity for harnessing the successes and lessons of previous years and building upon them to save more lives.

DOWNLOAD UN RESOLUTION FOR IMPROVING GLOBAL ROAD SAFETY

On 21-22 October, IRF will be hosting its annual autumn conference online under the theme “Innovation: Charting Pathways to Sustainable Mobility”. With fast-growing populations leading to significant urbanisation, the demand for new transport infrastructure is predicted to see massive growth in coming decades. The new challenges: the increasing expectations of businesses, service users, and the public and the need to reduce carbon emissions and waste.

The International Road Federation (IRF) is a global, independent, not-for-profit organization with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Active since 1948, IRF is a membership-based organization, representing leading corporate and institutional players drawn from the road and mobility sectors worldwide. Its mission is to promote the development of roads and road networks that enable access and sustainable mobility for all. Its approach is centered on key strategic components of knowledge transfer & information sharing, connecting people, businesses, and organizations, and working with policy & advocacy. 

Its annual conference titled Innovation: Charting Pathways to Sustainable Mobility means finding innovative ways to fulfill the need of building new roads, maintaining, upgrading, and operating the existing road network while aligning these actions with the provisions of the Paris Agreement – targeting lower greenhouse gases – and those of the SDGs looking for an equitable, safe and sustainable mobility for all.

Our collective task: create a truly safe, sustainable, and efficient multi-modal transportation system. For this to happen, we need to learn to think and do things differently.

The arrival of new digital technologies is enabling efficiency improvements in existing transport systems, as well as making them more user-friendly and sustainable. Integration across transport networks and modes is driven by the growing ability to make real-time system data and information available to operators and users.

None of the extraordinary mobility changes we are witnessing would be possible without proper infrastructure. Yet transforming mobility requires more than just technology and infrastructure. Transforming mobility requires innovation on all fronts: in the way we think, we plan, we design, and we deliver and manage transport systems.

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To celebrate International Youth Day, the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety launched an interactive and artistic live stream last Friday, August 13, called “No More Youth Tokenism!”. The event highlighted the fact that the success of different global initiatives could not be achieved without meaningful youth participation through young leaders, decision-makers, and other global leaders.

International Youth Day 
The theme of International Youth Day 2021 is, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, with the aim of highlighting that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people. It has been acknowledged that there is a need for inclusive support mechanisms that ensure youth continue to amplify efforts collectively and individually to restore the planet and protect life.

To support this message, the Global Youth Coalition led a live steam event that featured dynamic conversations and artistic expressions that presented and discussions different ways on how youth could meaningfully participate in transforming our realities, especially road safety and sustainable mobility, intersect within them, willing to achieve human and planetary health. 

No More Youth Tokenism
Hosted by award-winning UK journalist, Nelufar Hedayat, the live stream delivered dynamic conversations and artistic interventions that presented and discussed the experiences of young people when it came to meaningful participation in areas like health, road safety, climate action, and inequalities. 

The youth panel shared what it was like for them to get involved in all stages of decision-making while also shedding light on the challenges they faced as a young person leading the change within different organizations.

Through an intergenerational dialogue with representatives from global organizations, the perspectives of youth and experienced leaders on youth tokenism were further elaborated on and contextualized within development through the global goals.

From the perspective of their organizations, young leaders shared what they are doing to ensure meaningful youth engagement. Leaders from the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, Restless Development, YOUNGO, and the IFMSA – International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations all shared their experiences about how they were empowered to lead the change in their communities and regions.

“Through the Coalition, I managed to connect with young people from different countries around the world. I have managed to use the assets to benefit from the tools that the Coalition provides ” – Sana’ Khasawneh, Global Youth Coalition 

Secretary-General of the UN Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake, also shared a message for young people everywhere, saying that today’s generation of young people had the opportunity to be the largest driving force to create meaningful change. 

Throughout the session, different artistic interventions were also presented. 

The Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety supports its members to make the best impact in their respective communities and regions by providing them with resources, opportunities, platforms, partnerships, and more. 

Join our efforts to achieve the road safety targets presented in the global goals through the Global Youth Statement and to meaningfully engage and involve youth by signing up! 

JOIN THE GLOBAL YOUTH COALITION

The Coalition’s official anthem, “Claiming It!” produced by Youth Arts Movement Uganda was officially released last Friday, August 13, during a live steam event called “No more youth tokenism!” for International Youth Day. The song features Uganda artists Hawa Nanjobe Kimbugwe, Kwagala Esther, Profet aka “Prince of Africa”, K. Mukwaya Meshack aka “Vann Mesh”, and “Words of Wake”. Watch the video and read the lyrics here:

VERSE 1
I am more than just a statistic,
Thanks to my existence, the entire society can now be optimistic about the future.
But, with all these road crashes, how do you expect me to get to my future? Ah.
My father used to say work hard and make your life an easy one,
But the road to my destiny is not an easy one,
They say that life is what you make it,
But how will I make it when decision-makers won’t let me be a participant!

I can see what is happening to mother nature,
Climate change is all around me,
I don’t need a lecture, (NO)
I don’t wanna seat back,
I wanna take charge, All I need is opportunity
It doesn’t take much!

CHORUS
These streets are my only hope, to the future-
Will you walk with me
Stand with me, Coz- I won’t stop claimin it
Stop blamin me!
Youth Voice – [Mehn] Claimin it
Safer roads- [Yo] Claimin it
Safe Space, Safe Space
Claimin it, clean air- [Whaat!] Claimin it
Stop blamin me, there’s no planet B!
Safe roads, safe roads -Claimin it,
My dreams Yooo
Claimin it x3

VERSE TWO
Zebra crossing
Zafuuka decoration,
Kiki ekili mweno nation.
Kuby’enkozesa yekubbo
Abavvuzi n’abasabazze
Amateeka kukubbo
Nago gakwasibye
Maama Africa
Okusanyawo Obutonde
Kutema tabbi gwe kw’otudde
Abavubuka nadala abakyaala twetaaga participation Mukukola decision
Ez’eno generation.

BRIDGE:
Cos, we are the youth of the world, We need our voices to be heard, We’re working together,
To make the earth better, with good roads to ride on, Clean air to breath in,
A better place for you and me-

VERSE 3:
We need a seat with the leaders,
Not on the side with cheers,
Our influence is bigger than older Fears! 
That’s why we drive on the road on full gears, 
Over million youth parish it all brings tears,
Climate change, save our green earth space,
Young minds can combine to save our race,
Ecosystem is all at stake, Emissions from cars not given us a break! 

The youth don’t drive so clear,
No seat Belts on, Slow Down-
Speed Kills out there!
Give us a chance to speak,
We can articulate the facts,
Work with us more,
We can surely reduce the deaths!

WATCH IYD LIVE STREAM EVENT 

Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and Global Infrastructure Basel (GIB) has launched the Safe Urban Environments Program for Young People – their first-ever Youth Safety in Urban Environments Competition! This global competition is open to young people globally, with a particular focus on Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam aged 15 – 20 years old. It will run from 3rd – 19th  August 2021.

The Safe Urban Environments Program (SUEP) is a brand-new initiative proudly led by Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation, in partnership with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, hosted by Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, with the support of Fondation Botnar.

The SUEP ultimately aims at achieving a two-fold impact: that the urban environment itself is safer for young people but also that young people themselves feel safer in their environments and urban contexts.

MORE DETAILS HERE

We have reached an important milestone for youth and road safety in the Commonwealth agenda with the launch of the Commonwealth Youth Development Index (YDI) – a resource to track the progress on the Sustainable Development Goals associated with youth development. Secretary-General of Towards Zero Foundation, Jessica Truong talks about this important milestone in her blog for the Commonwealth Road Safety Initiative. We reproduced it here: 

Today marks a significant milestone for youth and road safety with the launch of the Commonwealth Youth Development Index (YDI). For the first time, the Commonwealth has recognized and focused on road safety as the leading cause of death for young people and included a chapter on its importance in the YDI. The chapter, authored by the Towards Zero Foundation (TZF) and Youth for Road Safety (YOURS), highlights the importance of prioritizing road safety and the involvement of youth in the path to sustainable development within the Commonwealth.

Everyone has the right to be safe on our roads and no child should have to fear the walk to school, but unfortunately, this is not the reality for many of us in this world. For those that live in low-income countries, the inequality in safety is far greater, with these countries having a road fatality rate 3 times that of high-income countries. Having said that, even high-income countries can do better to keep people safe on the roads.

When we think about what the most pressing public health issues are to address globally or even at a country level, the first thoughts might perhaps be cancer or heart disease. Very rarely will you hear road trauma being mentioned. However, road safety is one health issue that has an impact on every single person no matter where they live. Everyone uses the road in some way whether as a driver, passenger, cyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian and that is why road safety should concern everyone. It is a sad reality that road trauma is reaching crisis proportions globally, with over 1.35 million killed each year and millions more seriously injured. Many of the countries most greatly affected reside within the Commonwealth region, where over 500,000 lose their lives every year. And we should be especially concerned that road trauma is the number one killer of our young people aged between 5-29. It is undoubtedly the biggest health threat our young people face today.

Within the Commonwealth, where over 60% of its population is aged under 30, priority actions and leadership are needed to secure the safety and future of young people. And the research is clear. If nothing is done and the current road trauma trends continue, many countries within the Commonwealth will see even more people being killed every year. That is why it is so urgent for the Commonwealth to shine a light on road trauma and make it a priority public health issue to be addressed.

For the past year, we have been working closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Youth Forum and Youth for Road Safety (YOURS) to put road safety on the agenda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) as we recognise that leadership and commitment from the top down is necessary to secure the future we desire to see for our young people. Understandably, due to COVID-19, CHOGM which was due to be held in June this year has once again been postponed.

With the postponement of CHOGM, we are especially excited to welcome the launch of the latest edition of the Youth Development Index (YDI) today.

The YDI, developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat, evaluates the status of young people in over 180 countries around the world and comprehensively measures domains that are critical to youth development, such as education, health and employment. The YDI also helps inform policy-makers about young people’s needs and opportunities, as well as highlighting key areas where attention and investment are needed.

For the first time, road trauma has been recognized as a significant public health concern facing youth in the Commonwealth in the YDI. We are proud to have contributed a chapter on youth and road safety and highlighting why it is critical for the Commonwealth to address road trauma, the leading cause of death of our young people. The inclusion and recognition of road trauma as a major health concern for the Commonwealth is a significant milestone on our way to advocating for road safety to be put on the Commonwealth agenda.

In 2020, a new United Nations (UN) resolution proclaimed 2021-2030 as the second decade of action for road safety and announced a target of at least a 50% reduction in road deaths and injuries by 2030. All countries are encouraged to do more in road safety to help meet this target, including all countries in the Commonwealth. We want countries to realize that road trauma does not have to be an inevitable consequence of mobility. We want countries to understand that we have the solutions to address almost all of the trauma that we see on the road today. But what we are lacking is commitment, leadership and fast implementation. If all countries can commit to rolling out just the evidence-based road trauma solutions we have today, we will go a long way in meeting and possibly even exceeding the 2030 target.

The reality is, we cannot talk about youth development and sustainable development without first addressing the biggest health threat facing our young people and that is road traffic injuries. Today, the inclusion of road safety in the YDI marked a big step forward in having this included as a priority on the Commonwealth’s agenda. We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with the Commonwealth and working together to meet the 2030 target of reducing road deaths and injuries by 50% and ultimately towards a future that is safe for all.

Jessica Truong
Secretary General, Towards Zero Foundation 

ACCESS COMMONWEALTH YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INDEX HERE