On the 18th February 2020 more than 160 young leaders from 74 countries adopted the Global Youth Statement for Road Safety. The statement was based on the voices of 1500+ young people from around the world that took part in the Youth Consultations.
The statement was delivered during the World Youth Assembly by Global Youth Taskforce Member AllexAyub from Africa and again during the World Ministerial Conference by World Youth Assembly (WYA) Co-Chairperson Omnia el Omrani from Egypt.
The statement resonates with the youth’s cry, exclaiming “enough is enough”. The statement highlights the reality of today’s generation being born in a global road safety crisis with the added challenge of global decision-makers facing the issue with silence, inaction, and exclusion of the youth.
We are calling on decision-makers to start listening to the millions of voices calling for safer roads and safer mobility. The statement presents the glaring threats young road users face from different regions. The youth calls decision-makers to make proactive policies on; badly designed road infrastructure, lack of education and awareness, poor regulation and enforcement, and poor public transportation systems among others. Crucially, it illustrates the power of young people to act as change agents for road safety, through meaningful participation in decision-making and committing to take action. We are claiming our space
The Assembly was organized by a group of young leaders from across the world who represent different sector of global youth development, this group is known as the Global Youth Taskforce.
The movement of the Assembly will now become a Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety seeing young people from all around the world mobilize and champion global and local actions for road safety and cross-cutting issues. We call on decision-makers and stakeholders to invest in the Coalition and partner with the power and potential of youth.
The Assembly was initiated by YOURS – Youth for Road Safety. It was co-sponsored by the World Health Organization. Main partners to the Assembly were the Michelin Corporate Foundation, the Total Foundation and the Volvo Group.
See a full list of partners including network partners. Read more about the Assembly at www.wyaroadsafety.org
