Following the Marrakech Ministerial, youth advocacy builds momentum

Youth for Road Safety (YOURS) representatives across the globe have been accelerating advocacy efforts, building on the catalytic impact of the Marrakech Ministerial conference on global road safety.

The Third World Youth Assembly for Road Safety, organised in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency (NARSA), supported by the FIA Foundation, enabled dialogue between young people and policymakers. The 150 young leaders from 49 countries formed a delegation of diverse and intergenerational changemakers at the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, launching their Global Youth Statement for Road Safety, which calls for bolder action, investment in youth-led solutions, meaningful inclusion of young people, real accountability, and multi-sectoral collaboration to reduce road traffic crashes and injuries by 50% by 2030.

Following the Youth Assembly, young leaders have been engaging with national and regional decision-makers, promoting inclusive, targeted mobility changes, including:

• In Guayaquil, Ecuador, YOURS representatives made public policy proposals building on the Vice Mayor’s Youth-Forward Commitment on involving youth in national road safety strategies and plans, including urban speed reduction focusing on young pedestrians, including journeys to school.
• The Dominican Republic’s National Road Safety Agency has acted upon its Youth-Forward Commitments and, in collaboration with UNICEF, has launched youth consultations to inform its new National Road Safety Plan.
• In Peru, two national meetings have brought together the Ministry of Transport and Communications and youth representatives with youth stakeholders, focused on young people and road safety, to exchange ideas and showcase successful grassroots projects.

Further countries, including Jordan, Kenya, Indonesia, and Nigeria, have seen YOURS representatives continue to engage with national authorities and advocate for youth participation in national road safety strategies.

Atsani Ariobowo, FIA Foundation Director of Child and Youth Health, added: “The Youth Assembly has acted as a springboard for youth from across the world to accelerate action within their governments. From designing policy proposals to pushing for seats at decision-making tables, demanding and delivering change to promote sustainable mobility and contribute to climate, health, youth, and sustainable transportation agendas, YOURS advocates are making calls for changes in mobility around the world.”