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Youth Matter: Youth parliamentarian returns from UN youth confabWednesday, April 08, 2009 In April 2007, a UN World Youth Assembly for Road Safety conference, held in Geneva, Switzerland, provided a unique opportunity for young people all over the world to collaborate on global road safety issues under the auspices of the World Health Organisation. More than 200 young delegates from over hundred countries gathered then to discus ways in which domestic initiatives can help in the crusade. The Gambia was represented by a youth representative from the National Youth Parliament. This year the first task force meeting was convened from the 25th-26th March 2009, in Geneva, Switzerland. This task force, charged with the responsibility of spearheading the recommendations of the Assembly, comprises strong youth leaders in the field of road safety, representing all the regions of the world, and their selection had been based on their active participation at the World Youth Assembly for Road Safety, and their achievements as advocates and global ambassadors for road safety in their respective countries. At the end of that meeting, there was the agreement to spearhead the establishment of a youth NGO on road safety which will serve as a platform to connect young people from all over the world to advocate and sensitise for the safety of young people on the world’s roads. The task force is to create awareness in the world about road safety issues for young people, support and facilitate national road safety activities led by youths through technical and financial assistance and prepare a next generation of leaders from around the world to be sensitive to the issues of road safety. It comprises representatives from the United States of America, Canada, Australia, The Netherlands, Brazil, France and The Gambia. At this programme, The Gambia was represented by the National Youth Parliament Program Officer, who doubles as the speaker for the Banjul Youth Parliament, Hon Ousman Conteh, as the single representative from the African continent. He was nominated based on his outstanding participation at the World Youth Assembly. Hon Conteh expressed heartfelt appreciation to the World Health Organisation, Geneva office, and promised to vindicate the decision of putting him part of this high profile global youth initiative. He noted that they were inspired, empowered and encouraged to serve as ambassadors at home and abroad "by advocating road safety in our countries, regions, and the global community at large, to mobilise action towards reducing the unacceptably high number of road traffic deaths and injuries." It is time, he said, for young people to kick in and take some responsibilities on their own shoulders so as to put an end to these tragic and unacceptable happenings on our roads. Author: By Kemo Cham |
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