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30 June 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n I would like to begin by observing a moment of silence for all of those who were killed or seriously injured onroads all over the world.<\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n The statistics on road safety are both daunting and disturbing.<\/p>\n Nearly 1.3 million lives are claimed by road traffic accidents every year.<\/p>\n As\u00a0 <\/span>much as 3% of annual GDP in some countries is lost due to road accidents.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This trend can change<\/p>\n This trend must<\/span> change.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety is one step for us to do just that. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Under the theme, \u201cThe 2030 horizon for road safety: securing a decade of action and delivery\u201d we can build political will and deliver concrete actions that help to save lives.<\/p>\n As we begin our deliberations, I have five core messages.<\/p>\n First, no deaths on our streets are acceptable.<\/b><\/p>\n For far too long, we\u2019ve accepted far too many deaths.<\/p>\n And we have allowed the huge range of crucial benefits that arise from safe transport systems pass us by.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Enough is enough.<\/p>\n Road safety falls under the umbrella of the universal right to health – a fundamental right of every human being, wherever they are and whatever the circumstances.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Safety is paramount. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Second, the Global Plan is key to reducing deaths and boosting development.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n The Global Plan of Action for the United Nations Decade of Road Safety 2021 – 2030 calls for a fundamental shift in how we approach mobility.<\/p>\n The Plan makes the best use of our investments in safe transport systems, and aims to halve preventable deaths by 2030.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The safe systems approach recognizes that road transport is a complex system, with interconnecting elements that reinforce each other.<\/p>\n Safety therefore must be front and centre in how we organize, design and build out mobility systems.<\/p>\n All partners and stakeholders involved in building safe transport systems must be engaged in crafting road safety strategies.<\/p>\n Third, this High-Level Meeting could mark a critical juncture to address the issue of global road safety.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Governments need to endorse the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety and urgently act on its recommendations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This includes setting national and sub-national reduction targets; outlining detailed plans for action; employing a whole-of-government approach; ensuring sustainable financing; and putting in place gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory policies and practices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Above all, implementation of the Global Plan is crucial, guided by evidence-based practices.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Fourth, transformative leadership and good governance are key.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n To make this work, road safety must be a political priority at the highest levels of government.<\/p>\n Governments must lead and facilitate each country\u2019s road safety strategy. They must set up and maintain the broad and inclusive coordination mechanisms to ensure that all ministries and partners are fully involved in building safe transport systems.<\/p>\n Governments are key to providing legal frameworks and funding. Long term, sustainable investment is needed to leverage existing investments in wider areas of the transport sector.<\/p>\n Fifth, and finally, everyone has a role to play.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n The safe systems approach calls on everyone involved to share in the responsibility for road safety, and in the design of road safety policies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We must include young people who are disproportionately affected by road safety incidents.<\/p>\n We must adopt a gender perspective into all policymaking, ensuring that women\u2019s voices and perspectives are heard in designing policies that provide safe, inclusive and secure mobility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And we must take into account the views of those in vulnerable situations, such as persons with disabilities, and older persons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n From urban planners, to engineers, and academia, to civil society – all have an important role to play.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We must ensure that all stakeholders accept their responsibilities, and that mechanisms are put in place to support them.<\/p>\n This includes all those involved in designing and maintaining our roads, manufacturing our vehicles, and administering our safety programmes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And the role of the private sector is crucial.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Excellencies,<\/p>\n Today\u2019s High-level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety<\/b> is a key opportunity and platform for us to make the changes needed:<\/p>\n To strengthen political will, scale up investment, and draw on lessons learned, to accelerate action on implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action on Road Safety 2021-2030.<\/p>\n As the tragic toll on our roads rises, the time for action from governments, societies and communities is now..<\/p>\n Safe mobility systems offer the promise of a safer, healthier and better future for everyone, everywhere.<\/p>\n Let us seize this opportunity.<\/p>\n I thank you.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" United Nations General Assembly, New York<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Excellencies, colleagues,<\/p> I welcome you all to our second meeting and our first interaction following the resumed part of the session.<\/p> Before I begin, I would like to recognize the loss of our dear friend and esteemed colleague, Ms. Gail Farngalo.<\/p> A Liberian national, Gail was my Team Leader for Human Rights and was active on gender during both the 75th<\/sup> and 76th<\/sup> sessions. She leaves behind a legacy of achievements and a groundswell of respect and affection from across the UN and diplomatic communities. Her presence is certainly felt here today.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> When I took on this Presidency of Hope, I pledged to make gender equality a priority area for the 76th<\/sup> session. I continue to look to the board for its wisdom and expertise, as I endeavour to fulfil that pledge.<\/p> In this regard, I have already benefited from the board\u2019s advice, from when we met on October 28th<\/sup> last year.<\/p> Acting on that advice, I committed to ensuring that all my five rays of hope, and all my major initiatives, are approached with a gender lens.<\/p> I made sure that the composition of my office is gender-balanced.<\/p> I have committed to participating only in panels that have equal gender representation.<\/p> Throughout my official interactions and travels, I have endeavoured to meet with women, including heads of states and governments, scientists, civil society representatives, and youth.<\/p> And I am proud to inform you that five young women have been recruited into the Fellowship for HOPE<\/em> that my office recently launched. The Fellowship as you are well aware is targeted at benefiting young diplomats from underrepresented countries, pursuing careers in diplomacy or public service.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> While recognizing that we have a long way to go in the battle for gender-equality, I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish within the past few months.<\/p> Our work continues.<\/p> We will continue to raise our voices on issues disproportionately impacting women, such as domestic violence and work place harassment. We will continue to push the importance of gender-equal work spaces.<\/p> And we will continue to find new paths to empower young women with ambitious professional aspirations.<\/p> Now is not the time to rest on our laurels.<\/p> With the board\u2019s guidance and support, we must use the many opportunities over the coming months to further empower women and girls, and dismantle discriminatory practices against them.<\/p> There are several upcoming events that will provide us such opportunities. I look forward to the board\u2019s suggestions on how we can best utilize them.<\/p> As an example, the International Day of Women and Girls in science is fast approaching. We must recognize that women\u2019s contributions in science and technology have helped us cure diseases; discover new horizons in space; and develop technologies that have vastly improved our quality of life.<\/p> As we celebrate their achievements, we must also open pathways for young girls who aspire to follow in the footsteps of pioneers in science and technology.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Let us also reflect that the theme chosen by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women for this year is on \u201cachieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes\u201d.<\/p> As we strive to meet our obligations to the planet, let us recognize the important work done by women and girls at the forefront of the climate crisis, and whose humanitarian work in disaster-stricken areas has helped save lives and rebuild communities. We owe it to them to not only celebrate their work but to support them.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> Our programme of work for the months ahead has been circulated to members prior to the meeting, for consideration and feedback. Please note that the events we have planned are not exhaustive. I welcome further suggestions from the board on the content and format of future events and activities.<\/p> Colleagues,<\/p> We have made much progress within a short while. And with the board\u2019s support and guidance, I am sure that we can keep up this strong momentum.<\/p> I look forward to working alongside all of you to achieve our vision of a gender-equal world.<\/p> Thank you.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[550,556,553],"committee-meeting":[],"class_list":["post-268615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-speeches","tag-ga","tag-pga","tag-shahid","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n