YOUTH DECLARATION MOSCOW

Youth Leaders Commit to a Decade of Action for Road Safety

The leaders of today and tomorrow working together to increase road safety,save young lives,and prepare for safer generation.

Your excellencies,leaders of the world today,decision and policy makers,as you discuss the causes and implications of the road safety problem and adopt a Decade of Action we urge you to keep in mind the victims of road crashes,especially all the young people we have lost too soon;young people who were breadwinners,protecting their families from poverty;young people who could have made a difference in your countries and in our world.

On the 8th of November 2009,the day before the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety,we,youth leaders from many countries,participated in a Youth Meeting to raise awareness of the critical position of youth in traffic and to discuss how young people can work together with different stakeholders to control the impact of this world wide epidemic,especially in the context of the declared Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Young people under 25 years represent almost 40% of the victims of road traffic injuries.Annually,we lose around 400,000 young lives and damage millions more.This means that every month,we are losing more than 30,000 lives and every day,a day just like this one,more than 1,000 young lives are coming to end.We are certain that you share not only our concern,but are keen to change this situation.We are confident that you, like us,refuse to pay this high a price for transportation,transportation that was initially mean to better our lives.

We,young people,commit ourselves to play a significant role in the Decade of Action.Youth initiatives have already spurred in tens of countries and we will make sure more will be born.Since the World Youth Assembly for Road Safety in 2007,a global youth network has been established and we will work to expand it and strengthen it.Finally,what was once only a dream of zealous young people is now a certain reality.YOURS-Youth for Road Safety-is the first global youth-led NGO for road safety and it will start its activities after the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety.


We therefore urge you to:

1.Talk about youth and Road safety issues,learn about the situation of young people on the roads of your country and bring their issues to the forefront.

2.Design road safety policies and programs that address youth congress and engage young people in their planning and implementation.

3.Invest in young people in your country,build youth capacities,and support local youth road safety initiatives.

4.Support the mission of YOURS by connnecting us to local road safety stakeholders and youth groups,sharing your knowledge and experience,providing technical expertise,and/or providing financial resources.

"The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy"