Agita Pasarib, Indonesia
Agita is the founder and Executive Director of Bullyid Indonesia, a global award tech charity focusing on empowering victims of harassment with digital psychological and legal support. Her contribution and commitment to youth empowerment in digital governance and cyber harassment prevention have been recognized and celebrated globally. Agita received her LL.B in Criminal Law from the University of Indonesia. Fred J Hansen Institute then awarded her to continue the exclusive leadership program at the University of San Diego.

Adrián Marcelo Galindo Marcos, Mexico
Adrián works as a project coordinator for Movimiento de Activación Ciudadana, A.C. or MOVAC. In his role, he manages resources for the construction of comprehensive projects that focus on safe mobility and citizen participation. His aim is to integrate the social component into the projects he handles by presenting different ways in which the project can support the improvement of roads in the area and ensure that street design helps fulfill fundamental human rights in safety and mobility.

Ana Magdalena Rodríguez Gómez, Mexico
Ana is a 33-year-old urbanist architect who works as an independent consultant and university teacher. Her journey began ten years ago when she served as an urban activist in Monterrey City. She eventually extended her reach to a national level of architecture and urbanism through her position in Liga Peatonal. She moved to Guadalajara to pursue a Master’s Education where she completed research on Transport Oriented Development (TOD) as a development tool in Monterrey.

Chilekwa O’Brien, Zambia
Chilekwa is a 26-year-old demographer and road safety advocate working as a research evaluation associate at Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST) in Zambia. Chilekwa is passionate about promoting active and sustainable mobility to reduce the risk of traffic-related injuries and fatalities, particularly among vulnerable road users. His work involves conducting research and evaluating road safety programs, with a focus on identifying effective strategies to improve safety and reduce risk on the roads.

Maryfely Rincón, Colombia
Maryfely is a 24 years old urban Manager from the Universidad del Rosario. She currently works as a project coordinator at Despacio where she works as a data analyst, content creator, and content manager. She also works as the creator and editor of documents and publications related to road safety, and urban and active mobility. “I proposed this project because I believe that we can’t ignore the fact that people are still dying on the roads every day. No one should die from road crashes! Especially young people and children.”

Dilshod Kholmatov, Tajikistan
Dilshod is from Dushanbe, Tajikistan. He graduated from the Tajik Technical University where he studied Civil Engineering and Architecture. He was a semi-professional road and mountain bike cyclist and has traveled to many places by bicycle. Dilshod is a co-founder of the Critical Mass Dushanbe which was established 7 years ago with two international colleagues. Dilshod currently works as a project manager in road safety and post-crash response. He is a candidate to become a Chess Master and is interested in learning new languages.

Edmond Atwine, Uganda
Atwine currently works with the Uganda Road Accident Reduction Network Organization (URRENO) as a logistics officer and research assistant. “Working with URRENO has exposed me to several challenges within the transport sector some of which I strongly believe can be reversed through advocating for the promotion of NMT infrastructure usage in Kampala. The experience and skills I acquired at URRENO paired with my passion for road safety promotion motivated me to lead and mobilize youth to take part and cause the necessary changes.”

Jacob Smith, United States of America
Jacob is a diehard visionary movement builder. He has his own consultancy in road safety and mobility justice which delivers high-impact community organizing for transforming mobility access in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). Since 2014, he has presented at over 190 conferences and led projects in 12 states, mobilizing youth for safe and sustainable communities.

Alida Paola Becerra García, Mexico
Alida was born in Mérida, Yucatán in 1989. She is a 33-year-old feminist activist with a degree in Psychology from the Autonomous University of Yucatán. Paola specializes in group and collaborative processes. She has collaborated with the Reflexión y Acción Feminista (RAF) collective since 2014 and is currently coordinating the programs of women and territory. She has been an urban cyclist since 2010 and utilizes her experience as a female cyclist in Mérida to support and encourage other women to become cyclists.

Marwa Chacha Magoti, Tanzania
Marwa is 31 years old and currently works as an automobile engineer. He also works with the Ministry of Works and Transport in Tanzania as a transport safety Officer in the Directorate of Transport, Environment, and Safety. He is a Ph.D. candidate at Hasselt University and the National Institute of Transport (NIT) in Tanzania. He was first employed in TEMESA, Tanzania in 2018 where he then proceeded to the University of Hasselt, Belgium for his master’s program in Transport Science in Traffic Safety.

Sallam Alnawaiseh, Jordan
Salaam is an experienced Project Officer and Civil Engineer with a passion for promoting positive change in her community. She has been working in the field of community development for over three years and is currently working as a Project Officer at a local non-profit organization in Jordan, where she is responsible for managing community projects and ensuring their successful implementation. She has a strong background in Business and Entrepreneurship, Community Engagement, and Women’s Empowerment, which has allowed her to excel in her current role. 

Stephen Kome Fondzenyuy, Cameroon
Stephen is a 26-year-old civil engineer and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Rome. He is inspired by the need to curb the global challenge of road crashes in developing countries and, as a result, pursues research on speed management for low- and -middle-income countries. Together with his research group he develops and provides innovative road safety solutions in different African regions. He is an advocate for international development and has experience at the World Bank as a transport consultant.

Valeria Belén Cerpa Salas, Peru
Valeria has experience in web development and research. She developed social and technology-related projects brought on by her love for coding and programming. She advocates for the resilience of cities and communities in Peru and works as a developer at the US-based organization Planning 2050. She has been a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) intern, Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (Gi-Toc) Fellow 21´, Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Fellow 22´, One Young World (OYW) Delegate 22´, and University of Computer Studies, Mandalay (UCSM) research assistant 21´.

Tevoh Ndingwan, Cameroon
Tevoh holds a Master’s Degree in civil engineering and works as a road safety engineer. He performs road safety audits and inspections in rural and urban areas in Cameroon while coordinating regional road safety public education programs and campaigns. Through his work, he is able to analyze and prepare safety reports on road safety. He faced different road safety challenges while commuting to schools and witnessed the various crash incidents his colleagues have suffered.

The World Health Organization through the UN Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC) has announced the dates for the 7th UN Global Road Safety Week (UNGRW), from the 15th to the 21st of May 2023. This year’s theme, #RethinkMobility focuses on the importance of sustainable transport as a solution to SDG Target 3.6: halving the number of road-related deaths and injuries by 2030.

We published some of the main details for UNGRSW here:

Road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with young people being the most affected. It kills around 1.35 people leaving another 50 million injured every year. Cyclists and pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users, accounting for 1 of every 4 road-related deaths.

Last 2021, the WHO launched the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 to guide stakeholders on how to best support one another to meet the targets in the Decade of Action 2021-2030. The Plan also highlights how road traffic crashes can be prevented by addressing issues around the whole transport system which would result in taking action to ensure safer roads, safer vehicles, better road user behavior, and improved emergency care.

The 7th UNGRSW week focuses on sustainable transport with a particular focus on the need to shift to walking, cycling, and using public transport as alternative modes of mobility. “Road safety is both a prerequisite for and an outcome to a shift in mobility and transport.”

The week has 5 key messages; (1) there is a desperate need for governments and their partners to #RethinkMobility, (2) safety must be at the core of efforts to reimagine how we move in the world, (3) to ensure safety, networks must be designed with the most vulnerable/at risk in mind, (4) safe walking and cycling can contribute to making people healthier, cities more sustainable, and societies equitable, and (5) safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable public transport is a solution to many of societies’ ills. 

The WHO now invites all road safety and sustainable mobility partners to mark the 7th Global UN Road Safety Week by organizing events and activities and sharing messages and materials on social media with the hashtags; #RethinkMobility, #StreetsforLife, and #RoadSafety. 

MORE DETAILS HERE

The 2nd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety was a creative blitz filled with music, art, dance, dialogue, experience sharing, and inspiration. Nearly 200 young people from around the world, gathered together in Stockholm on 18th February 2020 and their call to world leaders was, “Enough is Enough” —enough of youth dying on the world’s roads, enough of being pushed aside, and enough of being ignored.

The youth leaders officially adopted the Global Youth Statement for Road Safety, representing the voices of over 1,500 voices of young people from across the world. The Statement highlights the realities they faced regarding road safety and mobility. From issues around health to sustainable cities, our delegates represented the experiences of their peers and brought them out for the world to see. Road safety was no longer an issue to be left in the background, it was brought center stage through an energized youth movement.

During the 2nd World Youth Assembly (WYA) for Road Safety, our young road safety delegates met, interacted, and delivered a powerful unified message to key decision-makers – from UN agencies, Government Ministries, and Authorities – to meaningfully engage youth in efforts in addressing road safety and sustainable mobility issues around the world.

As an official pre-event for the 3rd Ministerial Conference for Road Safety, the WYA delegates were given yet another golden opportunity to voice their demands and commitments to leaders worldwide through the Global Youth Statement for Road Safety, at the 3rd Ministerial Conference for Road Safety stage.

“We have tolerated for 150 years a system to transport ourselves which kills so many young people. The youth are saying enough is enough.” – Dr. Etienne Krug, World Health Organization. 

The Assembly saw young people coming together and realized the creation of a global coalition that gathered youth with similar interests, empowering them to take action against their biggest killer; road traffic crashes. The Youth Coalition has united youth from over 100 counties and has improved their road safety knowledge through 13 live capacity development sessions, involvement in leadership structures, guides seen through four advocacy tools published, and more. 

Through the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, a result of the WYA, young people are given resources, skills, partnerships, and opportunities to take their ideas to the next level and maximize their impact on road safety, sustainable mobility, and meaningful youth participation. The Youth Coalition is guided by a set of principles that define and guide its work locally and globally. 

Three years after the Assembly, the Youth Coalition has gathered over 1500 members leading the charge for safer roads and meaningful youth participation. Three years since the Assembly and we’ve been able to fund and support 32 Local Actions projects that address key road safety issues in communities all over the world. Three years since the Assembly and we’ve represented youth on the highest echelons of discussion through events like the High-Level Meeting on Road Safety. Three years since the Assembly and we show no signs of stopping. 

Happy Anniversary to the 2nd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety!

WATCH OUR ASSEMBLY HIGHLIGHTS

The World Health Organization (WHO) is exploring the creation of a public access law database on road traffic injury prevention in collaboration with one or more institutions. The public access database will provide access to country laws and regulations for research, advocacy, and in-country legislation improvements to harness the power of laws and regulations in addressing road traffic injuries and fatalities across multiple sectors, such as transport, health, insurance, and justice. 

We’ve published the updates below; 

The WHO’s request for information intends to identify suppliers to gather information and ideas to understand the industry for developing public access legislation for road safety. 

Since 2008, the WHO in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) Regional Commissions has monitored the status of countries in reducing road traffic mortality which remains high at 1.35 million yearly. As part of its role, WHO has collected and analyzed legislation and regulations submitted by countries pertaining to key risk factors which include; speed, drink-driving, seat belts, child restraints, helmets, drug-driving, and mobile phone use. 

A vast database of laws and regulations has been collected through current efforts since the 2015 Global Status Report. This, however, has not been made readily available or accessible systematically outside the WHO. In the upcoming global status report (to be published in 2023), WHO will collect updates to laws and regulations related to the risk factors identified while also covering new topics which include; driver licensing, professional drivers, vehicle safety, vehicle registration and inspection, insurance regulation, post-crash, and safe roads. 

A public database can ban be used by decision-makers, researchers, and non-profit organizations for legislation development, research, and advocacy purposes. It can also be used for country improvement in laws and regulations. Through the data that will be available, organizations can generate specific research to inform decision-makers on the most suitable legal frameworks for their countries.

The Request for Information (RFI) will conduct market research to identify firms capable of providing solutions for identifying suppliers, gathering data, and understanding the related industry.

MORE INFORMATION HERE

In 2022, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) adopted Resolution A/RES/76/137 to promote and engage young people in the policymaking process and plans through the UN Youth Strategy. Through the resolution, the UN calls on Member States to affirm their commitment and investment with and for young people to address the targets of the Agenda 2030.

“The Resolution reaffirms the commitment of Heads of State and Governments in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind, including youth, while also emphasizing the importance of implementing, following up on, and reviewing strategies that adequately address youth issues and give all young people, as well as youth and youth-led organizations, real opportunities for full, effective, constructive and sustainable participation in society, including in relevant decision-making processes and monitoring, in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life, including in designing and implementing policies, programmes, and initiatives, in particular, while implementing the 2030 Agenda. The Youth Agenda reiterates that the primary responsibility for implementing the World Programme of Action for Youth lies with the Member States and urges Governments, in consultation with youth, youth-led and youth-focused organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to develop integrated, holistic, inclusive, and effective youth policies and programmes as well as coherent cross-sectoral efforts.”

I was honored to attend the inaugural meeting of the WHO Youth Council held in Geneva from the 27th to the 30th of January representing YOURS – Youth for Road Safety. I got the chance to see how different UN Agencies and multilateral stakeholders are taking steps forward to ensure action with and for youth.

About the Youth Council-  WHO
This energetic and inspiring network counts 22 youth-led organizations and young people from health and other development goals backgrounds fostered by WHO. The role of the Youth Council is to collaborate with the Director General and WHO Senior Leadership to promote public health by ensuring a meaningful youth engagement strategy. 

“The Youth Council is the central element of WHO’s commitment to engage with young people, by supporting their leadership, promoting partnerships, and advocating for their recognition and visibility,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Your voices and your insights can make a real difference to realizing WHO’s vision of Health for All.”

We developed plans and creative proposals during the meeting to shape #HealthforAll. We also met with different colleagues from WHO to see possible synergies and other opportunities to support one another.

The Council is organized into working groups. YOURS is part of the  Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Department along with other similar organizations. From the YOURS side, we will promote road safety and sustainable mobility and prevent road traffic injuries from taking the lives of young people and other vulnerable road users.  

Dr. Tedros shared with us his comments and feedback on the proposals created by the Council to support meaningful youth engagement in a co-leadership role with him to address #HealthforAll. He also told us that having a kind mindset is always a good starting point for engaging the discussion and learning from each other. He encouraged us to lead the global health agenda together. 

At YOURS, we believe that the time is now to work and include young people in the policymaking process to contribute, demand, and deliver road safety policies.  We are working closely with different partners and networks at the local and global levels. We work with young advocates and partners like FIA Foundation, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth (OSGEY),  and WHO.

To support policymakers and young networks, YOURS has developed a toolkit that explains different steps and methodologies on how to meaningfully engage young people in the design and implementation of public policies. You can find more information here.

The Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, on the other hand, has been working on different policy briefs on climate, gender equality, and education that explains the linkages between road safety and the broader development agenda. It also discusses how young leaders have the power and knowledge to make policy change happen at the grassroots level. 

At YOURS, we believe that the time is now to work and include young people in the policymaking process to contribute, demand, and deliver road safety policies.  We are working closely with different partners and networks at the local and global levels. We work with young advocates and partners like FIA Foundation, the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth (OSGEY),  and WHO.

To support policymakers and young networks, YOURS has developed a toolkit that explains different steps and methodologies on how to meaningfully engage young people in the design and implementation of public policies. You can find more information here.

The Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, on the other hand, has been working on different policy briefs on climate, gender equality, and education that explains the linkages between road safety and the broader development agenda. It also discusses how young leaders have the power and knowledge to make policy change happen at the grassroots level.

YOURS is growing! With the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 and our strategic plans in place for the next five years, we are bringing on capable new team members to help support our mission of working with and for young people to demand and deliver road safety and sustainable mobility. This week, Kenneth Mulinde joins the team as our new Senior Communications Manager. Welcome, Kenny!

Kenneth is a creative activist committed to working with young people and ensuring road safety. He previously served in the communications and advocacy departments of different local and international organizations. His work revolved around other developmental spheres which included; delivering human rights-based programming, supporting youth-led struggles for social inclusion and justice, and general advocacy efforts for the delivery of public services.

In 2020, he got involved in road safety activism and began introducing hundreds of young people in Uganda to the world of youth-led road safety and sustainable mobility efforts. As a result, he has helped recruit a  number of youth leaders to the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety and he has supported a number of road safety awareness and advocacy campaigns led by YOURS.

As a member of the Youth Coalition, Kenneth has led two successful Local Actions projects that have empowered youth in his area to creatively express their demands for safer roads and more sustainable transport systems to local leaders. 

As senior communications manager, Kenneth is responsible for overseeing the creation, development, and timely implementation of the organizational and all project communications. In collaboration with the Project Managers and the Directors,  Kenneth will ensure communications are in line with the YOURS strategic plan and advocacy messages. He will be responsible for effectively communicating our impact and helping drive our project goals.

Welcome aboard, Kenny! 

MEET THE REST OF OUR TEAM