YPC Article March 2025
CARSP YPC in Morocco: Insights from the 3rd Global Youth Assembly and 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety.
In February 2025, two CARSP Young Professionals Committee (YPC) executives, Robert Colonna and Jerome Range, travelled to Marrakech, Morocco, to participate in the 3rd Global Youth Assembly and the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety. These pivotal events brought together young leaders, experts, and policymakers from around the world to discuss and collaborate on innovative strategies for improving road safety. This article provides reflections and some key takeaways from these exceptional events. We are grateful to our sponsors, CARSP and Parachute Canada, for supporting our participation in these important gatherings.
On February 15 & 16, we joined over 150 youth from 130 countries for the 3rd Global Youth Assembly for Road Safety, an official side event of the Ministerial Conference. Fun fact: the Canadian Road Safety Youth Committee (the YPC’s former title) was formed in 2007 when eight young Canadians attended the first World Youth Assembly for Road Safety in Geneva, Switzerland, during the United Nations’ Global Road Safety Week (read more). Nearly two decades later, we were back, proudly representing Canada on the global stage!
Over the two days, we participated in meaningful discussions, engaged in expert-led sessions, and unveiled the new Global Youth Statement for Road Safety, which called for safer and more sustainable mobility worldwide. The first day focused on global evidence, with expert panels and discussions exploring data, policies, and strategies in road safety. The second day centred on local actions, featuring interactive workshops and youth-led sessions on driving real change in their communities. Some examples include using the International Road Assessment Programme (IRAP) Star Rating System to assess local streets and identify areas for improvement, as well as planning new multi-modal land use strategies led by the World Resources Institute. We were honoured to share insights from our experiences in Canada and hear from young leaders in other countries on local youth-led actions that prioritize youth engagement and empowerment. The Assembly underscored that young people are not just future leaders but active change-makers offering tangible solutions in the present.
On February 17th, we took to the streets of Marrakech for the #CommitToLife: Walk and Ride. This event, hosted by YOURS (Youth for Road Safety) and the Global Alliance for NGOs, aimed to promote safer, more sustainable mobility. By bringing together delegates from diverse backgrounds and age groups, the event fostered a shared commitment to reducing traffic-related harm and improving urban environments for all. Plus, it provided a nice change of scenery, allowing us to explore the beautiful streets of Morocco and immerse ourselves in the local culture.
From February 18-20, we participated in the 4th Global Ministerial Conference for Road Safety. This landmark event provided us with an invaluable opportunity to engage with policymakers, industry leaders, and road safety experts to help shape global strategies. Our very own YPC Chair, Robert Colonna, was invited to speak at the Ministerial Conference on the panel, “Youth at the Table: Integrating Young Voices in Road Safety Decision-Making.” This was an incredible opportunity to showcase some of the important road safety efforts happening here in Canada. You can watch the full discussion here! The other panellists included Nikorn Chamnong (Member of Parliament, Thailand), Blanca Lopez (Vice Mayor, Guayaquil, Ecuador), Avi Silverman (Deputy Executive Director, FIA Foundation) and Sovann Kong (Advisor to the National Road Safety Committee, Cambodia).
With the support of CARSP President, Valerie Smith, we arranged special one-on-one meetings with the United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety to discuss the importance of integrating youth perspectives into global road safety strategies. We also had the chance to sit down with Canada’s Associate Deputy Minister of Transport, Brigitte Diogo. In this meeting, we advocated for Transport Canada’s role in supporting youth road safety initiatives and creating opportunities for meaningful youth engagement in policy making. During our conversation, we handed over the Global Youth Statement on Road Safety, stressing the need for youth to be actively involved in shaping the future of road safety. These discussions were pivotal in advancing youth representation and reinforcing Canada’s ongoing commitment to addressing road safety challenges on the global stage.
By attending these two monumental events, we not only represented the Canadian road safety community but also contributed to the global conversation about making roads safer for everyone, with a particular focus on the needs and concerns of young people. One of the key takeaways was the opportunity to forge new connections with policymakers, road safety experts, and global organizations, opening doors for future collaborations and initiatives. The event sparked valuable dialogues on how to integrate youth more meaningfully into road safety decision-making processes, inspiring new ideas for YPC events and campaigns. We also gained insights into innovative approaches to youth engagement, which will help us create more impactful and inclusive initiatives. These discussions reinforced the importance of empowering young people as key partners in road safety and emphasized the need for sustained efforts to amplify their voices on the global stage.
We hope our participation and the sharing of our experiences encourage more Canadian youth to join the YPC and become active participants in shaping the future of road safety. Together, we can ensure that the next generation is heard, engaged, and empowered in the efforts to create safer roads for all.
Robert Colonna
YPC Chair