On 22nd November 2012, a meeting of the Commission for Global Road Safety took place at the London headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). It was chaired by EASST’s patron and Chair of the Commission, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen. Those attending included Commission members General Victor Kiryanov, Deputy Minister of the Interior of the Russian Federation, actress and Commission Ambassador Michelle Yeoh, Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell, and other prominent figures united to reduce the number of road deaths globally.
EASST partner Serghei Diaconu reports to the Commission
The Commission met to discuss progress made under the framework of the UN Decade of Action 2011-20 and to focus on efforts regarding the inclusion of road safety within the Sustainable Development Goals – currently being formulated for all nations for 2015, building upon the Millennium Development Goals. The Commission was established by the FIA Foundation in 2006, and has been the leading force behind the adoption by the UN of the Decade of Action in 2010.
Also in attendance were EASST’s Director Emma MacLennan, EASST’s Celebrity Ambassador Nigar Jamal, and EASST partner Serghei Diaconu. Mr Diaconu was recently appointed Head of the State Police of Moldova and has been awarded special recognition by the FIA Foundation for his work in promoting road safety. He reported to the Commission on his efforts to reform the police and tackle road safety. He highlighted the desperate need for modern equipment such as police vehicles and enforcement technologies, describing them as vital to his “war on road deaths’ in Moldova.
Michelle Yeoh, Lord Robertson and EASST Ambassador Nigar Jamal
Both Mr Diaconu and General Kiryanov were praised by the Commission for their leading example to other nations. General Kiryanov showcased Russian achievements both domestically and internationally, highlighting the decline in fatalities despite the increase in fleet size. Natalia Agre, President of the NGO ДВИЖЕНИЕ БЕЗ ОПАСНОСТИ (Movement for Safe Travel) was also in attendance, and can point to many examples of successful public awareness campaigns helping to reduce road casualties in the Russian Federation.
The meeting concluded with a luncheon hosted by EBRD First Vice President Varel Freeman addressed by HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Patron of the Commission and sponsor of the Prince Michael Road Safety Awards.
Photos courtesy of the Make Roads Safe Campaign.
Other coverage of the event:
Nigar Jamal’s attendance: www.1news.az/bomond/bomaz/20121123060300029.html
EBRD Video: www.ebrd.com/pages/news/media/video/news.shtml
FIA Foundation: www.fiafoundation.org/news/archive/2012/Pages/LordRobertson%E2%80%99sCommissioncallsforroadsafetyinSDGs.aspx
EBRD Website: www.ebrdblog.com/wordpress/2012/11/driving-road-safety-up-the-international-agenda/
