Statement by Ms. Sofya Simonyan, Third Secretary, Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN, at the UNGA 72 Plenary Meeting Item 12: Improving Global Road Safety

12 ապրիլի, 2018

Mr. President,

Armenia welcomes the convening of today’s session and the presentation of the draft resolution A/72/L.48, entitled “Improving global road safety.” We thank the main sponsor of the resolution, the Russian Federation, for leadership, commitment and support to this important initiative.

Armenia has consistently co-sponsored this landmark resolution, which we see as a blueprint for action to prevent road accidents resulting in injuries and deaths. As we embark on our new national program for road safety, we are determined to translate the commitments of this resolution into tangible, life-saving measures in Armenia. We are pleased to note that resolution 70/260, as well as the road safety-related SDGs have been integrated into our national program for the next five years, as a comprehensive policy framework for improved legislation, enforcement and road safety compliance.

The Decade of Action for Road Safety has been a period of remarkable improvements in Armenia. Much has been done to increase road safety, including through implementation and enforcement of adequate laws, as well as soft measures such as awareness-raising and educational efforts, with a special focus on rural areas, children and youth. Partnerships involving local authorities have contributed to safer and more resilient communities.

Despite many improvements, road traffic accidents continue to remain a major public health and development concern. Developing countries face particular types of challenges related to road safety. Poor condition of roads and inadequate infrastructure negatively affect trade from rural areas, while connecting local production to markets remains a fundamental challenge for poverty eradication.

There is a need for more coordinated efforts towards safer road infrastructure, safer vehicles and safer road users, and we support the call to intensify national, regional and international collaboration to this end. Armenia welcomes the establishment of a United Nations Road Safety Fund to support progress towards achieving road safety-related SDGs and relevant global targets. We would like to convey our appreciation to the Special Envoy for Road Safety for leadership and support in mobilizing political commitment and global action. We also thank the UN regional commissions and commend the role of the UNECE for its long-standing commitment to road safety instruments.

Thank you.

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