The United Nations Secretary General has published his 2011 final report on road safety presented to the United Nations General Assembly. It shows that there have been concerted efforts for road safety around the world and many more after the launch of the momentous Decade of Action for Road Safety.
At YOURS, one of our aims to provide our youth network with key information, resources and reports to build the knowledge capacity of our young activists. In this article, we draw attention to the United Nations Secretary General’s report for 2011 reporting on Improving Global Road Safety.
It is noted: The Secretary-General hereby transmits the report on improving global road safety, prepared by the World Health Organization in consultation with the United Nations regional commissions and other partners of the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration.
A summary is provided:
The present report provides an update of the status of the implementation of the recommendations contained in General Assembly resolutions 58/289, 60/5, 62/244 and 64/255 on improving global road safety. It covers the two-year period (October 2009-August 2011) since the issuance of the last report to the General Assembly (A/64/266). The report provides an account of activities undertaken and achievements attained by the global road safety community towards the objectives of the Decade of Action for Road Safety.
It also describes some of the ongoing road safety activities, which are a testament to both the recognition of the problem around
the world and the solutions that Governments and other stakeholders need to implement in order to stem the current tide of road traffic crashes and their consequences for both public health and development.
The two most notable road safety events during the reporting period were the hosting of the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety by the Russian Federation in November 2009 and the launch of the Decade of Action for Road Safety in May 2011. Both events drew significant attention to the issue from the highest political levels in many countries, resulting in the development of plans and targets to address the problem. The report concludes with a number of recommendations for consideration by the
General Assembly to achieve the goals of the Decade.
Point 52: The UN Secretary General mentioned YOURS’ work in the field:
52. Following the World Youth Assembly, in April 2007, a Youth Task Force shaped the first global youth-led non-governmental organization for road safety, called YOURS — Youth for Road Safety. YOURS was officially launched during the opening ceremony of the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety and started operations in early January 2010.
Significant progress has been made during its first year as an independent organization. YOURS is focusing on three strategic pillars: advocacy; inspiring — connecting — uniting; and capacity development. Activities to date include, for example, the launch of an advocacy campaign (the World Crossing Campaign), a Youth and Road Safety Workshop organized in Cambodia in partnership with the Global Road Safety Partnership, and expansion of the global youth network for road safety and online presence under the MINE section. Furthermore, a website was developed, monthly newsletters were sent out and social media channels were launched.
The English report can be downloaded in attachements and all 6 UN languages here: http://documents.un.org/mother.asp