IPI together with the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety and Global Citizen, cohosted on July 1st the US launch of “Make a Safety Statement,” a joint United Nations–JCDecaux Global Campaign for Road Safety.

Every year, road traffic deaths claim the lives of a staggering 1.19 million people and leave countless others with severe injuries. In response to this urgent global issue, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, in collaboration with JCDecaux, with the support of Saatchi & Saatchi, launched a worldwide campaign under the motto “Make a Safety Statement.” This initiative is being launched in 80 countries and 1,000 cities and represents a call to action, amplifying the message of the New Decade of Action for Road Safety, aiming to halve the number of road-related victims by 2030.

In the US, road crashes are the second biggest cause of accidental death, after firearms. According to the World Health Organization, the US fatality rate is estimated at 12.7 per 100,000 people, while the rate in Europe is 6.5 per 100,000 people. Pedestrian deaths in the US rose over 40% from 2010 to 2018, more than twice the pace of any other OECD country.

The campaign aims to promote road safety and create secure, inclusive, and sustainable streets worldwide. Through active involvement in the “Making a Safety Statement” campaign, we can decrease risk factors, especially in urban areas, enabling people to safely walk, live, and enjoy their environment. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals and safeguard the well-being of our planet and people.

Speakers focused on creating “safe and sustainable mobility in the city, from NYC to Marrakesh.” During the event, Street Art for Mankind artist Dragon76 created an original piece of art that was unveiled at the conclusion of the event.

Street Art for Mankind is a nonprofit organization that strongly believes in the power of art to trigger social change. With the support of over 80 prominent international street artists, the organization curates and produces large murals, interactive exhibitions, and live performances around the world to bond communities and generations around human rights.

Welcoming remarks:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO of the International Peace Institute
Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety
Jean-Luc Decaux, President & Co-CEO of JCDecaux North America

Opening remarks:
H.E. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UN
H.E. Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to the UN

Speakers:
H.E. Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN
Ydanis Rodriguez, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Transportation
Lucrecia O’Har, Account Manager – Local Government (NYC), ESRI
Dani Simons, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs – Americas, Alstom

Closing remarks and call to action:
Jean Reno, Actor and Road Safety Advocate
Audrey and Thibault Decker, Co-Founders of Street Art for Mankind
Dragon76, Artist

Moderator:
Esra Sergi Bertani, Communications Officer, UN Office for Partnership