On Thursday, participants at the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety adopted the Marrakech Declaration, an ambitious roadmap aimed at strengthening international commitment to creating safer, more accessible roads for all. «This declaration is the result of a collaborative effort, reflecting the voices and contributions of all stakeholders», stressed the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, in his speech at the closing session of the global meetings held from February 18 to 20 in the Ochre City. The Minister emphasized that the document is not merely «a declaration of intent, but a call to action—a roadmap for achieving significant progress in road safety worldwide». Welcoming the strong support it has received from member states, Kayouh noted that the document incorporates valuable recommendations, ensuring that it reflects the input of all involved in road safety—governments, cities, civil society, academia, the private sector, and, most importantly, the victims and their families, who «remind us of the human cost behind every statistic and hold us accountable». The Declaration reaffirms key principles, including strong leadership and accountability, sustainable funding, innovation and technology, and cross-sector collaboration. It also highlights the challenges faced by different regions, ensuring that no country is left behind in the collective effort to reduce road deaths and injuries. Among the key measures outlined in the Marrakech Declaration are accelerating the implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, strengthening both national and international commitments, and ensuring sustainable, integrated funding for road safety. The Declaration also praised «Morocco's leadership in road safety», acknowledging King Mohammed VI's decision to launch the Mohammed VI International Road Safety Award, further reaffirming Morocco's commitment to global road safety. Signatories of the Declaration called for investment in safer infrastructure, the promotion of safe systems, technology, and sustainable mobility. The text also emphasizes the need to intensify international cooperation and capacity-building, particularly in low-income countries, with a special focus on Africa. Participants encouraged the United Nations General Assembly to adopt a resolution promoting the Marrakech Declaration and called on the WHO to monitor progress on the commitments made at this Global Ministerial Conference. This edition was organized by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics in collaboration with the World Health Organization.
