Jennifer Heatley
Canadian delegate to the World Youth Assembly for Road Safety
Halifax, Nova Scotia

In April of 2007, I was fortunate to be one of 8 young Canadians selected to represent our country at the United Nations World Youth Assembly on Road Safety in Geneva, Switzerland. In preparation for this assembly, delegates from over 100 countries around the world contributed to a declaration on youth and road safety which was officially adopted at the April assembly. In addition to adopting the declaration, myself and other delegates had the opportunity to share stories and road safety strategies from our home countries. We also spent time discussing how to action the declaration and how to ensure that its message does not get lost in the months and years to come.

While the adoption of the declaration was highly significant, I felt that the true benefit of the assembly was the motivation it gave to the hundreds of delegates who attended. It was extremely empowering to know that young people all over the world care about this issue and are doing their best to improve the lives of their peers. We have since established an online group of delegates from around the world so that we can communicate our ideas, successes, and trials as we work to action the declaration in our individual countries.

I and my fellow Canadian delegates returned to Canada with a renewed ambition to tackle this daunting issue. We have agreed amongst ourselves to continue to work towards reducing the number of youth road traffic injuries and fatalities by forming a national body. In addition we anticipate the establishment of regional youth coalitions that are youth led and oriented. On a personal note, I have begun the process of establishing such a group in my home province of Nova Scotia. It is my hope that this group will function to generate awareness of the declaration as well as work towards improving public policy regarding youth and road safety. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to attend the assembly in Geneva, in particular because it has empowered me to generate change here at home.