DAKAR DECLARATION
1. Context
Nearly half of all countries in the WHO African Region have committed to strengthening reporting on road crash fatalities, with an eye on meeting the global target of halving road crash deaths by 2030 as set out in the Global Plan for the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2021-2030.
2. Dakar Declaration
- The ‘Dakar Declaration,’ adopted in principle by 21 African countries after the first African sub-regional conference on the implementing the Global Plan for Road Safety in Dakar, Senegal, includes actions to enhance data capture, analysis, sharing and coordination to shape better road safety policies.
- During the three-day event in early March that was hosted the National Road Safety Agency of Senegal (ANASER) and co-sponsored by WHO
- The conference brought representatives for 21 African governments, regional bodies and civil society organizations together to address key issues in implementing the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
3.African Union Road Safety Charter:
- The African Union (AU) Road Safety Charter is a continental initiative aimed at promoting road safety across African countries.
- It was adopted by the African Union in 2006 and serves as a framework for African countries to develop and implement road safety policies and programs.
- The charter outlines key principles and actions to be taken by African countries to improve road safety, including measures related to road design, vehicle safety, driver behavior, and post-crash care.
- African Union member states that sign and ratify the charter commit to taking concrete steps to reduce road traffic accidents and fatalities on their roadways.
- The charter aligns with global road safety efforts and the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety, which aimed to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries worldwide
4. Safe Systems Approach to Road Safety in Dakar Declaration
- The Safe Systems Approach to Road Safety is a comprehensive and innovative strategy aimed at reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by creating a road transport system that is inherently safe, even when road users make mistakes.
- It emphasizes that human beings are vulnerable to injury, and therefore, the entire road network, vehicles, and traffic environment should be designed to minimize the severity of crashes when they do occur.
- The Safe Systems Approach is closely related to the Dakar Declaration on Road Safety in Africa, which was adopted in Dakar, Senegal, in 2005.
- While the Dakar Declaration does not explicitly mention the Safe Systems Approach by name, the principles of this approach align with the goals and commitments outlined in the declaration.
5. African Union (AU)
The African Union (AU) is a continental organization consisting of 55 member states from across the African continent. It was officially launched on July 26, 2001, in Durban, South Africa, and is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The AU replaced the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which was established in 1963.
Key objectives and functions:
- The AU is dedicated to promoting peace, security, and stability in Africa. It plays a significant role in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and peacekeeping missions on the continent. The AU's Peace and Security Council (PSC) is responsible for addressing security issues.
- The AU works to promote political cooperation among African nations. It seeks to prevent unconstitutional changes of government and supports democratic governance and respect for human rights
- The AU aims to promote economic integration and development in Africa. This includes initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to create a single market for goods and services across the continent.
- The AU is committed to improving the social and economic well-being of African citizens. It focuses on areas such as education, health, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
- The AU supports the development of infrastructure and transportation networks to enhance connectivity and trade within Africa
- The AU promotes and protects human rights on the continent and has established institutions like the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
6. Way forward
The Dakar Declaration on Road Safety in Africa may not explicitly mention the Safe Systems Approach, but it aligns with the broader principles of creating safer road transport systems in Africa. The declaration calls for improved road safety legislation, infrastructure development, and enhanced road user behaviour—all of which are integral components of the Safe Systems Approach to Road Safety
Source: WHO
