2015 has been an incredible year of action and the culmination of lots of global efforts of the past few years. The YOURS office will be closing on 21st December for our annual festive break and so we will catch you in the New Year! In the mean time, we reflect on some of the big achievements of 2015!
Building on our efforts of 2014 and the global push for road safety target to be included in the Global Goals, the biggest news of this year was securement of of our target!
As you would have seen on the YOURS website, we were heavily involved in the push to include road safety targets in the forthcoming Sustainable Development Agenda Post 2015. Along with our Global Youth Network for Road Safety we were at the forefront of advocating for road safety targets to be included from a youth perspective in the UN’s youth calls for input.
Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages:
3.6. By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents
(In the Health Goal, the stand-alone road safety target is lined up alongside other major priorities including maternal and under-5 mortality, AIDS and universal health coverage. The 2020 SDG target is far more ambitious than the 2020 goal set for the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety to ‘stabilise and reduce’ road deaths.)
Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable:
11.2. By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. Read more about how we were involved here. In Brasilia, global leaders for road safety discussed how we can reach these ambitious targets. YOURS were involved in organizing a Side-Event on Road Safety for Children and Youth and our Director, Floor Lieshout delivered a speech in the closing ceremony!
For YOURS, the biggest news for us was by far our award for our Capacity Development Programme from the MAPFRE Foundation.
YOURS accepts award for ‘Best Prevention and Road Safety Initiative’ from her Majesty Queen Sophia of Spain
On the importance of the Award, Floor Lieshout – Director of YOURS – Youth For Road Safety said:
“On behalf of the entire team of YOURS – Youth for Road Safety, it is an absolute honour to accept this distinguished award. We are thrilled to receive this award from such a well-respected organization, FUNDACIÓN MAPFRE, a leader in the field and esteemed colleague at the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration. It is an extreme pleasure to get this important recognition for our hard work over the past couple of years.”
Youth facilitators in Belize out running workshops with their peers.
We were privelged to travel to Madrid to pick up the award and celebrate the achievement of our work. It came on the back of delivering out Training of Facilitators in Belize. Which was another massive achievement for YOURS. The climax of a two year fruitful collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Belize. In 2016, we will be scaling up our programme in the Caribbean and extending our programme of empowering youth across the world!
For other important highlights from the year 2015, check out our activities here!
We would like to thank all of our supporters that worked with us in 2015! The YOURS office will reopen on 4th January 2016 and we will see you on the other side!