WHO Hosts Global Parliamentarians for High-Level Dialogue on Women’s Health, SRHR and NCDs.
Lawmakers from nine countries meet in Geneva to strengthen cooperation on gender equality, cancer control and the future of global health governance.
Geneva:
The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed a delegation of parliamentarians from nine countries to its headquarters in Geneva for a high-level dialogue focused on advancing women’s health, strengthening sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), addressing the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and shaping the future of global health cooperation.
Convened by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, the meeting brought together lawmakers from Albania, Germany, Georgia, Mexico, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden and Zimbabwe. The exchange underscored the critical role of parliamentarians in translating global health commitments into national legislation, policy and financing decisions.
Moving Beyond Fragmented Approaches to Women’s Health
A central theme of the dialogue was the need for integrated and life-course approaches to women’s health. Dr Alia El-Yassir, WHO Director for Gender, Equity and Diversity, emphasized that women’s health outcomes are deeply influenced by gender inequalities, social norms and structural barriers that persist throughout their lives.
She highlighted that addressing these determinants requires coordinated action across health systems and sectors, rather than isolated interventions.
Marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a landmark global framework adopted in 1995 to advance gender equality—Dr Anna Coates, WHO Gender Equality Technical Lead, noted that progress in women’s health has been uneven across regions. She called for health systems that are more gender-responsive and capable of addressing women’s health needs holistically.
Parliamentarians echoed the message, stressing that health policy cannot be separated from broader social and economic frameworks. They called for stronger connections between scientific evidence, legislative processes and measurable impact at the country level.
Strengthening Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Sexual and reproductive health and rights featured prominently in the discussions, with lawmakers expressing strong interest in advancing policies that directly affect their constituents.
Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health and Ageing, outlined WHO’s life-course approach to SRHR. She explained how health needs evolve from birth through older age and are shaped by social determinants, humanitarian crises and demographic shifts.
Dr Allotey emphasized the importance of sustained parliamentary engagement and collaboration with WHO and the Human Reproduction Programme to support evidence-based policymaking in this critical area.
Cancer and NCDs: A Growing Priority
The agenda also highlighted cancer as an increasing priority for women’s health and health system sustainability. Experts presented WHO’s integrated strategy for cancer control, covering prevention, early detection, access to essential medicines and palliative care.
Dr Prebo Barango, Lead of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, Dr Meghan Doherty, consultant for palliative care, and Mr Santiago Milan, Lead of the WHO Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicine, outlined global progress in tackling cervical, breast and childhood cancers.
Participants discussed the significant social and economic toll of cancer on families and caregivers, emphasizing the need for sustained political commitment, domestic investment and people-centred care. Lawmakers shared national experiences illustrating how improved health literacy and stigma reduction are essential components of effective cancer control strategies.
The Future of Global Health Cooperation
The dialogue also addressed the evolving landscape of global multilateralism. Dr Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, described WHO’s recent restructuring and realignment efforts aimed at enhancing efficiency, impact and country-level support.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to engaging more systematically with parliaments worldwide, recognizing their central role in shaping health legislation, allocating budgets and ensuring accountability.
Looking Ahead to UNITE Global Summit 2026
The meeting concluded with a shared call for strengthened collaboration between WHO, parliamentarians and international partners. Participants highlighted the importance of sustained political leadership, long-term investment and agile multilateral institutions to advance women’s health and broader global health goals.
The dialogue also served as a stepping stone toward the upcoming UNITE Global Summit 2026, scheduled for 6–7 March in Manila, Philippines, where parliamentary engagement on global health is expected to continue at a larger scale.
The Geneva exchange reflected a growing recognition that improving women’s health and addressing complex global health challenges require coordinated action between international institutions and national lawmakers—ensuring that global commitments translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
