14 February 2018, Geneva, Switzerland – Today, Mr. Carlos Brito, Chief Executive Officer of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) and Mr. Nikhil Seth, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), signed a partnership agreement to collaborate to improve road safety. This public-private partnership is the first of its kind in its ambition to significantly tackle road safety and, ultimately, save lives.
Road traffic injuries claim more than 1.2 million lives each year and have a disproportionate impact on negative health and development outcomes. Road accidents are the 9th leading cause of death across all age groups globally and the leading cause among young people aged 15 to 29 (WHO, 2015).
To contribute to reduced road traffic deaths and injuries, UNITAR and AB InBev are joining forces to implement a global public awareness initiative and build capacity with local governments and partners. Together, we will bring together leaders across sectors to share best practices and to implement holistic, evidence-based approaches that improve road safety. Activities will include conferences, training workshops, and targeted interventions in countries with the highest death rates due to road traffic.
“The private sector must play a key role in implementing measures to improve road safety. Partnerships will be essential. From designing road safety codes, to promoting education and creating technology applications that enhance mobility and reduce traffic accidents, road safety is a collective responsibility,” said Mr. Nikhil Seth, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR.
“We all live on this planet together. We all drive the same roads. We all look for opportunities to enjoy the good things in life. So it’s up to all of us to ensure the safest roads. Our collaboration with UNITAR is an important public-private partnership to catalyze solutions and tackle global road safety. This builds on our commitment to address not only the safety of our fleets, but also the well-being of communities where we live and work,” said Mr. Carlos Brito, CEO of AB InBev.
UNITAR and AB InBev are committed to saving lives by building awareness, harnessing data and technology, promoting education and training, and implementing evidence-based road safety interventions in target countries worldwide. We look forward to stemming the tide on this critical issue.
