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World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims Foundation – an Interview with Banita Fidyova

In this episode of Justice Speaks, JSI Co-President David Wallace speaks with Banita Fidyova, the Secretary General for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims Foundation.

Every third Sunday in November is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDoR). It is a global recognition of the devastation caused by traffic crashes everywhere. The Foundation’s purpose is to highlight and organize global events and raise awareness of this important day.  

From Bulgaria, Ms. Fidyova has a Master’s degree in law and started working with road traffic victims fighting for their legal rights in 2012. Shortly after that, she began to organize the WDoR events in her home country and in 2018, she joined the European Federation for Road Traffic Victims as a project officer for the WDoR.  The Foundation was established in 2021, in Brussels, Belgium, and its purpose is to ensure the widest possible awareness, throughout the globe, of the existence of the WDoR.  According to the United Nations, the WDoR is the “appropriate acknowledgement for road traffic victims and their families.” 

From Bulgaria, Ms. Fidyova has a Master’s degree in law and started working with road traffic victims fighting for their legal rights in 2012. Shortly after that, she began to organize the WDoR events in her home country and in 2018, she joined the European Federation for Road Traffic Victims as a project officer for the WDoR.  The Foundation was established in 2021, in Brussels, Belgium, and its purpose is to ensure the widest possible awareness, throughout the globe, of the existence of the WDoR.  According to the United Nations, the WDoR is the “appropriate acknowledgement for road traffic victims and their families.” 

Traffic Crashes are a Global Tragedy 

Around the globe, someone is dying every 24 seconds, and 10 people are injured because of traffic crashes.  Clearly the impact is significant to everyone.  These crashes impact not only on individuals and families but also the national economic well-being.  The issue is sufficiently momentous that the United Nations declared 2011-2020 the Decade of Action on Road Traffic Safety and then for 2021, again, declared 2021 to 2030, the Second Decade of Action with the goal of a 50% reduction of road fatalities. Ms. Fedoya points out that a 50% reduction is still too many deaths.  The Foundation is encouraging countries and organizations to set zero fatalities as the goal – that it is the only appropriate target that victims and families can accept. As Ms. Fedoya noted, she has two children, with a 50% goal, should she accept that one should die in a traffic crash?   Of course not, it is not acceptable. 

Sadly, there is no accurate global estimate on how many people are injured on the planet.  However, what is important to remember as Ms. Fidyova points out, is that road traffic crashes are hurting everyone, no matter which country we are located, no matter the economics, sex, or race, traffic crashes impact everyone; someone is dying in every country.  In other words, we all must step up and work to make our roads safer.

The Origins of the Day of Remembrance 

The Day of Remembrance started in 1993 by Foundation co-founder Brigitte Chaudhry, whose son who was killed in a terrible crash in 1991 in England.  Since then, she has dedicated her life to helping road victims and raising awareness of this global tragedy.  Initially she started a charitable organization and then she was able to have a Day of Remembrance established in England.  In 1995, it became a European acknowledgement and since then, the day’s recognition continued to grow.  The UN General Assembly adopted the World Day of Remembrance as a global effort in 2005. Currently there are 208 countries commemorating this effort all over the world, raising awareness and recognizing victims and their families across the globe.  It is a day that is recognized by governments, non-governmental organizations, communities and individuals.

Participating in the World Day of Remembrance 

The current message for the WDoR by the Foundation is “Remember, Support, Act,” with local organizations adding a local message for their communities. The Foundation is providing a platform for all of the victims and their families to remember all those killed on the road, recognizing that this day, the third Sunday in November is their day to focus and remember. Also on this day, the Foundation and others, pay tribute to the ambulance, police and other medical personnel who are the first responders and see the traffic crashes first hand.

To participate in the World Day of Remembrance, it is possible to visit the Foundation’s website, (worlddayofremembrance.org) fill out the form where the event will be held and what is being planned, download the artwork, as well as the supporting material.  It is permissible to use the logo and other material.  Currently the poster is in 6 different languages, but the Foundation is willing to translate the poster into other languages and it is all available for free.

Light of Hope Initiative

One of the initiatives that the Foundation is sponsoring is the Light of Hope Initiative.  The goal is to have every person put a candle or light in their windows in remembrance of a traffic victim on the third Sunday in November.  It can be in support of a particular person or recognizing those in the community who have lost their lives. Many office buildings are also setting up their windows as a display for the Light of Hope Initiative. 

To learn about other activities, it is possible to view them on the Foundation’s website.  These include weekly campaigns, marches, and religious services, with the United Nations also hosting events with global leaders.

One of the other efforts by the Foundation is encouraging local organizations and governments to create a dedicated memorial for road victims. The Foundation’s goal is to have a memorial in every country around the globe, at the very least, in the capital cities. This can result in governments and local organizations all working together to create a memorial and focus on those lives lost.

For More Information

To participate in this global endeavor, or learn more about it, go to the website, worlddayofremembrance.org.  There you can list your event and increase the awareness of this important day. Each event is being promoted by the Foundation on its website and via social media.

You can watch this interview by going to the Justice Speakers Institutes’ YouTube Channel or by clicking here.