238 Policy advocacy: mandatory child restraint systems in Colombia

In Colombia, article 82 of the National Transportation Code states that only children under 2 years old must use a child restraint system (CRS). Only 1 in 10 children under 2 years old use them. Between 2021–2022, the number of serious injuries of passengers under 10 years travelling in vehicles increased 30% from 632 to 824. Colombia signed the UN 1958 Agreement for vehicle regulations which requires the modification of Article 82 of the National Transportation Code, specifically to mandate what the international practice recommends: CRS for children by age, weight, and height below 150 cm, 35 kg and a minimum age (12 years old). Evidence shows that the use of CRS reduces serious injuries in infants by 73% and those of children under 12 years old by 76% in the event of a crash (American Journal of Public Health, 2009). Hence, as set forth in the Colombian national constitution, families, society, and State must share duties to protect children, and in this case, advancing road safety for children is an ethical, social, and legal imperative. This paper aims to present the advocacy campaign promoted by Red PaPaz to demand mandatory child restraint systems in Colombia. Since 2022 Red PaPaz has advocated for the correct application of child restraint system regulations through a media advocacy framework. This work has had two main objectives: Implement policy advocacy for promoting the mandatory use of CRS Develop and implement a digital campaign that supports the advocacy of CRS While decision makers such as congress members support the needed regulation for compulsory CRS, there is still low political will from the side of the Ministry of Transport to regulate them. On its side, the media advocacy strategy had advanced with citizenship reached out and exposed the relevance of CRS correct wearing. The media campaign has also served as a mechanism for citizens to demand decision makers the mandatory and correct usage of CRS. At this time, we have over 600 people that have signed our online petition available at https://entretodos.redpapaz.org/es/movilizaciones/ministerio-de-transporte-su-inaccion-los-esta-matando