Leaders Champion Youth Voices and Youth Coalition Initiatives at #Safety2024

Delhi, India - From the 2nd to the 4th of September, members of the Global Youth Coalition attended the 15th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion (#Safety2024).

The Conference put a spotlight on safety and prevention and gathered international experts with a united goal of Building a Safer Future for All: Equitable and Sustainable Strategies for Injury and Violence Prevention.

The delegates of the Youth Coalition participated in eight events. These events included moderation of The Great Debate Session with the theme “Experts and Youth on the Future of Policymaking in Injury Prevention and Sustainable Policies”, a presentation on Empowering Cities to Solve Their Own Road Safety Issues via Youth-Led, Community-Driven, Multi-Sectoral Action Backed by Data and Technology under the Mentorship of Experts, a presentation on Bridging the Gap Between Youth and Policymakers: A Toolkit for Policy Change on Sustainable Mobility, a presentation on Youth Voices in Road Safety: Improving Engagement in Evaluation through Digital Storytelling, a poster presentation on Youth-Driven Actions of Road Safety in the Sustainable Development Agenda, and a discussion on the Consultations Analysis updates related to the Global Youth Statement for Road Safety and Next Steps.

Among the things highlighted during the presentations is the methodology on youth inclusion in policymaking processes at the road safety policy stream thematic session. “We call on decision-makers to include young people in the official delegation for the Ministerial as a clear commitment to working hand in hand with youth and saving lives”. The delegates shared the YOURS - Youth for Road Safety Policymakers’ Toolkit as a helpful resource.

Delegates also presented the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Champions structure of the Global Youth Coalition, which includes fifteen young researchers responsible for creating the six SDG Policy Briefs that link road safety with key Global Goals. These Briefs also feature case studies of youth-led local action projects. 

There was also a discussion on the loopholes in the crash data reporting in regards to the road infrastructure and how organisations like the Indian Road Safety Campaign are bridging this gap with their flagship ‘Policy Internship Programme’ - a Structured Approach for Identification and Correction of Infrastructural Defects led youth under the guidance of expert mentors using data and technology.

Young people are calling on leaders and decision-makers to ensure that the perspectives of youth are integrated into local policies and global strategies and to build healthier, inclusive, and resilient communities and cities.

”It is up to us to turn this potential into practice. Let us not leave this room unchanged, let us commit, here and now, to building a world where every voice is valued and every young leader is empowered to make a difference.” - Sana’a Khasawneh, YOURS Advocacy and Campaigns Manager

The Global Youth Coalition Delegates include Pankhuri Jain, Deepanshu Gupta, and Sana’a Khasawneh.