High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety

About the High-level Meeting

The High-level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety (HLM) will be held at the UN headquarters in New York, US on 30 June-1 July 2022. Its theme will be The 2030 horizon for road safety: securing a decade of action and delivery.

The HLM is organized under the leadership of the President of the UN General Assembly, to be attended by UN Member States’ Permanent Missions to the UN, Heads of State, and Ministers to push towards the achievement of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030. Even if your Head of State or Minister is not attending in-person, they may have delegated to your country’s Mission in New York.

Background

The HLM was mandated in 2021, in UN resolution 74/299 Improving Global Road Safety that announced a new Decade of Action for Road Safety and the target to reduce road deaths and injures by 2030. The details of the session are set out in another UN resolution 75/308 Scope, Modalities, Format and Organization of the High-level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety HERE.

Purpose of the HLM

The HLM will focus on addressing gaps and challenges, mobilizing political leadership, promoting multisectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration in this regard, and assessing the progress made in attaining the objectives of the road safety-related targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Format of the HLM

The opening segment of the meeting will comprise of statements by the President of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, the Director General of the World Health Organization and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety. A general stakeholders’ segment will then be held with statements by Member States and observers of the General Assembly followed by panel discussions around specific themes and a brief closing session with concluding remarks by the President of the General Assembly. Find the program HERE (page five of the Concept Note).

Opportunities for NGO advocacy

The most significant impact that NGOs can have to use the HLM for advocacy is by leveraging it national progress toward the 2030 targets. You don’t need to be attending the meeting in New York in person to be able to use the opportunity to advocate with your government. Here are some actions that you can take:

Before the HLM

• Find out if your government is attending the HLM (Head of State, Minister, or your country’s Permanent Mission to the UN who is based in New York)
• If your government is represented at the meeting (by your Minister or your country’s permanent mission to the UN), encourage them to make a statement that includes specific commitments for evidence-based actions and financial investment.
• You can also use the HLM as a campaign moment or media opportunity in your country. Find #CommitToAct campaign resources HERE and the NGO Declaration and regional Calls to Action HERE.

During the HLM

• A political declaration is currently being drafted by UN Member States. When agreed (via silent assent), it will be adopted at the HLM. This means that your government is a signatory to this declaration and therefore, although it is not binding, it is an opportunity to hold them accountable for its commitments. You will be able to find the declaration on the HLM website when it has been finalized.
• You can watch the HLM on UN Web TV HERE. In particular, pay attention to statements made by Member States, note any commitments or promises that you can hold them accountable to. We have created a checklist for what to listen for.

After the HLM

• The Alliance will be holding a debrief session on 12 July 2022 at 14:00 CEST for NGOs to discuss how to leverage the statements and outcomes from the HLM to keep governments accountable for what they commit to. Register HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How can I watch the HLM?

The HLM will be webcast live on UN Web TV HERE.

• Did my Head of State receive an invitation to the HLM?

There have been no formal invitation letters as the UN Resolution 74/299 Improving Global Road Safety is the formal invitation to all Member States. The President of the UN General Assembly issued an official letter sent to all permanent missions to the UN, which you can read HERE.

• Can I go to the HLM?

Applications for accreditation and registration via their ECOSOC membership have now closed but you don’t need to be attending the meeting in person to be able to get value from it.

Note that the meeting is primarily aimed at Member States’ permanent missions to the UN, Heads of State, and Ministers. The attendance of civil society is organized via UN President of the General Assembly’s office and WHO. The Alliance is not involved in the process or selection.

• Has my application for accreditation been accepted?

Check the link HERE to see if your organization is listed.

• I’ve been notified that my accreditation has been accepted. What do I need to do next?

Next steps should be listed in the email that you were sent regarding your accreditation. The Alliance is not involved in the registration process and is therefore unable to provide visa support letters. We suggest that you contact the organizers via the email that you received regarding your accreditation.

• Are there grants from the Alliance available for NGOs to attend?

There are no grants from the Alliance for NGOs to attend the HLM.

• Where can I find a program for the HLM?

The program is available in the concept note HERE (page 5).

Further information about the HLM

Read more about the High-level Meeting HERE.

Concept note for the HLM including agenda HERE.

Find the UN resolution 74/299 Improving Global Road Safety HERE.

Find the UN resolution 75/308 Scope, Modalities, Format and Organization of the High-level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety HERE.