W.H.O. on Road Safety

Global Meeting of NGOs Advocating for Road Safety

7-8 May 2009

Brussels, Belgium

WHO is pleased to host the first "Global Meeting of NGOs Advocating for Road Safety". The meeting brings together more than 100 participants from 70 road safety and road victims' organizations from more than 40 countries.

NGOs advocating for road safety and road victims can play a key role as spokespeople and catalysts for action. In many countries they have successfully drawn attention to the issue and moved the road safety agenda forward. While such NGOs are diverse in some ways, many share the fact that they were created by mothers, fathers, siblings and friends following the death of a loved one in a road traffic crash. Many of the victims and families they represent have been confronted with similar challenges in trying to seek the support of the legal, social welfare and criminal justice sectors following these tragic events.  

The aim of the "Global Meeting of NGOs Advocating for Road Safety" is to foster a greater understanding of the expertise and needs of these NGOs and share knowledge, experiences and approaches to advocating for road safety and support for road victims. Participants will also prepare a statement from the NGOs to be presented to the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in Moscow in November 2009.

The meeting will highlight examples of national efforts to influence legislation, manage campaigns, develop educational materials and provide services for victims. Among others some of the featured programmes include:

·         In Belgium, Ouders van Verongelukte Kinderen / Parents d'Enfants Victimes de la Route's creation of Rondpunt, a structure specifically devoted to monitoring, coordinating and improving assistance to road victims

·         In Brazil, Vida Urgente's work with peer to peer education of young people in schools, nightclubs and bars

·         In Cameroun, Securoute's contribution to the country's national road safety strategy

·         In Europe, the European Federation for Road Traffic Victims' long-standing work to create the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and have it recognized by the international community

·         In India, ArriveSafe's production of "Your Child's Road Safety Handbook" and other media materials 

·         In South Africa, Drive Alive's theatre productions for school children in previously disadvantaged areas

·         In Tanzania, Uwaba Cyclists' Group's call for safe road infrastructure for cyclists

·         In the United States, Association for Safe International Road Travel's creation of the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety

·         In Uruguay, Gonzalo Rodriguez Memorial Foundation's "Edu-Car" education programme for school children

·         In Viet Nam, Asia Injury Prevention Foundation's work to promote and provide helmets for motorcyclists and passengers

Nearly 1.3 million people die on the world's roads every year, and as many as 50 million others are injured. Many of those affected are pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists and users of public transport. Typically, they are from low-income and middle-income countries and often between the ages of 10 and 24 years. The consequences of these crashes go well beyond these statistics; they affect entire families and communities for many years. In many countries, the services to support victims and their relatives need to be further developed.

"This need not be so", states Dr Etienne Krug, Director of WHO's Department of Violence and Injury Prevention and Disability. "There are options for preventing road traffic crashes and for improving services for victims and their families. The road safety and road victim NGOs gathered here today in Brussels can be instrumental in catalyzing the national and international response. They are an inspiration and a reminder that all societies and all of us as individuals need to step up our efforts. So many precious lives are at stake, and inaction is not an option."