5 May 2017 – While touring the Amazon region of Colombia where one of the monitoring mechanism facilities was set up under a historic peace agreement, a delegation from the United Nations Security Council met today with members of La Referma community, as well as Government representatives and FARC-EP members.

The purpose field visit is to witness first-hand implementation of the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP), and to observe the progress as well as the challenges of carrying out the aims of a hard-won peace deal.

This monitoring mechanism facility in Colombia’s Meta Department is one of the designated locations where the Government of Colombia as well as FARC-EP continues to work together paving the path towards peace.

While addressing all parties present in the transitional zone, Ambassador Elbio Rosselli, of Uruguay, which holds the Council’s presidency of the month of May, highlighted the trust between Government and FARC-EP representatives.

He said he was struck to see, on one hand people with the UN (blue) jackets and on the other, Government representatives as well as guerrilla component using the same brown colour, adding that this &#8220further affirms the absolute confidence, certainty, that this process goes forward and has no return.&#8221

The members of the Council are accompanied by the head of the UN Mission in Colombia, Jean Arnault, senior Colombian Government officials and FARC-EP leaders.

The Colombian Government’s High Commissioner for Peace recalled that Meta was one of the areas most affected by violence. &#8220We know what peace means for this community and we hope they can talk to the people immersed in the conflict,&#8221 Sergio Jaramillo told the members of the Security Council.

Also present was FARC-EP leader, Iván Márquez. He expressed a &#8220sincere, deep thanks&#8221 to the Security Council.

Upon departure from New York earlier this week, Mr. Rosselli stressed that the presence of the Security Council would carry a message to Colombia that the UN was committed to the special political mission established there, and would provide additional support, as requested.

After finishing the visit to Colombia, the Members of the Security Council will return to New York, where they will hold an informative session about their visit later in May.

5 May 2017 – Spotlighting the relationship between speeding and traffic fatalities &#8211 speeding contributes to one in three traffic deaths &#8211 the UN health agency, ahead of Global Road Safety Week, is urging countries to take measures to curb dangerous driving behaviour.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.25 million people die every year on the world’s roads. Close to half of those tragic deaths are caused by drivers going faster than posted speed limits.

&#8220Speed is at the core of the global road traffic injury problem,&#8221 WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said in a news release issued on the eve of the week, which runs from 8 to 14 May. &#8220If countries were to address just this key risk, they would soon reap the rewards of safer roads, both in terms of lives saved and increases in walking and cycling, with profound and lasting effects on health.&#8221

To raise awareness and avoid tragedy hundreds of events are being organized throughout Global Road Safety Week. WHO points out that these events will contribute to achievement of the road safety-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The UN health agency points to research that shows that a five per cent cut in average speed can result in a 30 per cent reduction in the number of fatal road traffic crashes.

&#8220Speed reduction is a key contribution [to the SDGs],&#8221 said Etienne Krug, Director of the WHO Department of Injuries and Violence Prevention in an interview with UN News. &#8220We have planned our cities for cars. Cars are everywhere, they are speeding and [as a result] people don’t feel comfortable in many cities to cycle or even to walk.&#8221

Mr. Krug further pointed out that public transportation is underdeveloped and if &#8220we continue [like this], we are going straight into the wall if we develop our cities just for cars.&#8221

The campaign Save Lives: #SlowDown is also part of a larger initiative &#8211 Save LIVES: a road safety technical package &#8211 promoting 22 key measures to address road traffic deaths and injuries, including on managing speed.

Aside from speed management the plan focuses on leadership, infrastructure design and improvement, vehicle safety standards, enforcement of traffic laws and post-crash survival.

&#8220Speed is not the only factor,&#8221 stressed Mr. Krug. &#8220Drunk driving is also a key factor and distracted driving such as texting and being on the phone.&#8221

He saw a clear need to campaign for improving infrastructure and modes of transportation. &#8220We need to make cycling, walking and public transportation more safe and more accessible because that is the future and it is also much healthier. People will have less non communicable diseases if they walk and cycle more. I’m talking about cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.&#8221

Krug confirms that the work is paying off. &#8220We are seeing progress there are many cities, I could highlight Freiburg, Sao Paolo and New York,&#8221 adding that &#8220we want more of that, and we want it faster because the clock is ticking.&#8221