World Day of Remembrance 21 November

11 November 2010

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is the day on which all those killed and injured in road crashes are remembered, together with their families, the emergency services and all others affected or involved in the aftermath. 

It was first celebrated nationally by RoadPeace in 1993. Since then it has been observed and promoted worldwide by several non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including RoadPeace, the Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) and the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR) and its associated organizations.

In recognition of the enormous strength that NGOs possess as advocates for road safety, WHO hosted a meeting of 12 such groups in September 2003. The meeting led to the creation of an informal network of agencies that advocates for road safety, and the identification of areas for joint activities.

ASIRT, FEVR and RoadPeace were invited to be members of the UN Road Safety Collaboration. They, together with other NGOs in the informal network, lobbied through the Collaboration for a day to be dedicated to victims and their families.

This led to the recognition by the United Nations General Assembly of the third Sunday in November every year as a World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 'as the appropriate acknowledgment for victims of road traffic crashes and their families'.

There is a special web site dedicated to the victims.