CNS: 2025

Why are we still failing on gender equality despite years of promise

As 2025 wraps up, let us remind ourselves of some of the prominent promises (including some legally binding ones) which our governments have made since 1945 to advance progress on gender equality and human rights. The Preamble of the United Nations Charter adopted by all governments in 1945 begins with the three words: "We the peoples…" and not "We the men..." Equal rights of men and women are further reaffirmed in the UN Charter Preamble 1945.

Given the medical advancements today - in an ideal world, all children should be born free of infections like HIV, syphilis or hepatitis-B; all pregnant women should be accessing full spectrum of maternal and newborn care (including services to prevent vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis-B); and all people living with HIV should lead normal and healthy lives. We have proven science- and evidence-based tools and person-centred and rights-based approaches to help us achieve these public health outcomes. But sadly, this is not an ideal world yet and intersectional social inequities, injustices and inequalities mar lives of so many of us.

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To mark Human Rights Day (last day of 16 Days of Activism to end gender-based violence) and Universal Health Coverage Day, the Geneva-based Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI) and CNS proudly announce the 3rd Edition of SHE & Rights Media Awards 2026.

Ten years back at the United Nations General Assembly, all world leaders promised to eliminate harmful practice of female genital mutilation/ cutting (SDG-5 target 5.3) by 2030. But instead of declining, female genital mutilation/ cutting has instead increased by 15% over the past 8 years: from 200 million in 2016 to over 230 million in 2024.

Would gender-based violence end with us?

"Let us pledge that gender-based violence will end with us. For how many generations and centuries will we bear the brunt of gender-based violence? We are not asking for mercy from men or boys – we are asking for our right to live with equality and justice – just like them. Enough is enough. Full Stop." These were the words of keynote speaker Shobha Shukla at Africa's Speak Up and Heal Summit organised by African Girls Empowerment Network to mark International Human Rights Day.

[watch the AMR Dialogues, listen to podcast] The United Nations apex health agency – the World Health Organization (WHO) – had announced the establishment of its first-ever civil society Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in October 2025. This marks a major shift in addressing AMR which is not only among the top 10 global health threats but also threatening our food safety and systems and polluting our environment. After all, it is we the people that must be central to health and development responses.

[video] WHO Civil Society Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance gives hope

[podcast] Co-Chairs of WHO Civil Society Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance share insights

This Podcast features both co-chairs of first-ever World Health Organization (WHO) Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Katherine Urbaez and Tracie Muraya.

Katherine Urbaez is a former diplomat from the Dominican Republic, who has been instrumental throughout her career in numerous negotiations and in developing public policies within various multilateral processes, with a specific focus on health, human rights, and environmental issues. She also served on the Executive Board Membership to WHO.

Tracie Muraya is the Deputy Director for Policy & Strategy for ReAct Africa. She engages with policymakers, AMR stakeholders, and national and local AMR Coordinating Committees, including at the Regional Quadripartite and Africa CDC. Tracie coordinates in-country projects in Africa which are implementing National Action Plans on AMR.

They were in conversation with Shobha Shukla, Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA) and CNS Executive Director.

Background piano music credit: Ms Reya Shukla Iyer and Tara Shukla Iyer.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, TuneIn, Podtail, ListenNotes, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, iVoox, and other podcast streaming platforms.

Watch the recording

Join us on 8th December 2025, Monday, in SHE & Rights special session during the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, and ahead of International Human Rights Day and UHC Day.

Why are we failing to end one of humanity's oldest and most pervasive injustices?

Ending gender-based violence is human rights imperative

[हिंदी] Few weeks ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had said: "Violence against women is one of humanity’s oldest and most pervasive injustices, yet still one of the least acted upon. No society can call itself fair, safe or healthy while half its population lives in fear. Ending this violence is not only a matter of policy; it is a matter of dignity, equality and human rights."

[video] Story-telling and media engagement around AMR

Tobacco-free and nicotine-free future is a bedrock to deliver on #EndTB and SDGs

According to the latest WHO Global TB Report 2025 released a week ago, tobacco smoking is among the top-5 risk factors for the deadliest of all infectious diseases worldwide - tuberculosis (TB). In countries with alarmingly high tobacco use, like Indonesia, tobacco use is the biggest risk factor for TB. Tobacco is also among the major common risk factors for a range of other non-infectious (or non-communicable) diseases, such as heart diseases and stroke, cancers, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, among others.

Right to health is a fundamental human right. There is no doubt that everyone - without any exception or exclusion - should be able to live healthily in a rights-based manner - everywhere. Along with ensuring high to health is a reality for all, it is also important to recognise health financing as a smart investment.

The risk of getting TB disease is among the highest in unhoused and other marginalised persons but the likelihood of them seeking public TB services is low – and finishing lifesaving TB therapy is even lower. The delay is long – very long – for them to get right diagnosis (if at all) – and so are the catastrophic costs which they may incur until getting correctly diagnosed. Not being able to finish lifesaving TB treatment is not helping either- the person suffers and so does the TB response - because we collectively fail to disrupt TB transmission.

Let us go back in time 97 years ago and dare to imagine the plight of those who suffered with bacterial infections before the discovery of world's first antibiotic in 1928 (penicillin). Without lifesaving medicines, curable or treatable infections could become deadly - once again. Today, a lot of medicines are failing to treat infections because disease-causing bacteria, virus, fungi and/or parasites are becoming drug-resistant - largely because of human-made misuse and overuse of medicines. Choice is ours: Do we want to slip back in time when there were not enough medicines around, or would we stop misuse and overuse of medicines and use them responsibly?

[watch the recording] As intergovernmental Treaty meetings open on climate (UNFCCC) and tobacco control (WHO FCTC), there is a growing call to make Big Tobacco pay and kick Big Polluters out of these Treaty negotiations. Experts have underpinned the critical importance of firewalling intergovernmental health and climate policy negotiations from corporate interference and called for advancing progress towards holding abusive corporations to account.

1st inaugural India AMR Media Awards 2025

Watch the recording of 1st inaugural India AMR Media Awards 2025

Watch the recording of 1st inaugural India AMR Media Awards 2025, which was part of 5th Annual Global Media Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance, organised ahead of World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW 2025).

Watch the recording of 2nd Global AMR Media Awards Ceremony 2025

2nd Global AMR Media Awards Ceremony 2025 was held as part of 5th Annual Global Media Forum on Antimicrobial Resistance, ahead of World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW 2025).

Gateway to universal access to SRHR is human right to health

[watch the recording] The human right to health is not a privilege, it is a legal obligation - rooted in international human rights law - and must form the foundation of all efforts toward universal access, equity, and justice. Protecting, implementing, and enforcing this right is essential for the wellbeing of women, girls, and all gender-diverse peoples.

Watch the recording of SHE & Rights Media Awards Ceremony at International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2025) in Bogota, Colombia

A brewing crisis: Millions of women still lack access to family planning

The landscape of sexual and reproductive health and rights is shifting: millions of women want to avoid pregnancy but are not using a modern method of contraception.

[Read official announcement] World's largest prize devoted to TB, the coveted Kochon Prize, was awarded to India's Molbio Diagnostics for its technological innovation which is helping over 90 governments worldwide to reach the unreached with best of multi-disease molecular diagnostics. This is the third time India won Kochon Prize with previous two recipients being 2006-head of Indian government's TB programme Dr LS Chauhan, and country's apex medical research body - Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2017.

Tobacco use poses a severe burden on Myanmar’s health and economy, killing about 64,000 people each year. Myanmar has marked a significant milestone in protecting public health and advancing global tobacco control efforts with the successful implementation of standardised plain packaging on tobacco products.

Having taught Physics for over 30 years to young girls, when experts called for transforming teachers and teaching for young people’s health, well-being and gender equality, it resonated strongly with me.

Gender equality is enshrined in the opening preamble of United Nations Charter 1945. But despite progress and some setbacks, not a single country has delivered 100% on gender equality. Is the sinister link between patriarchy, capitalism, corporate capture, religious fundamentalism, militarisation, and politics of power, the reason why progress on gender equality remains off the mark?

Amidst anti-gender push, hope pins on ICFP 2025 to shift gears towards SRHRJ for all

Despite right to health and gender equality being fundamental human rights, the world is off the track from delivering on these goals in the next 62 months (by 2030). Anti-rights and anti-gender pushbacks have made the situation even more grim. Activists are pinning hope on an upcoming global meet to galvanise a stronger and equitable response to deliver on these goals.

Study proves strong impact of taking molecular TB diagnostics closer to the people

Urgent call to replace sputum microscopy completely with true point-of-care molecular tests to #FindAllTB

An important scientific study published in The Lancet shows the strong public health impact of deploying molecular diagnostics closer to the people.

[Watch the recording] 5th Annual Global Media Forum ahead of World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) would be organised on 12th November 2025 (begins 11:30AM CET). This year's WAAW is on the theme: "Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future."

The world is heading towards widespread resistance to common antibiotics. So indicates the Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025, that was launched today by the World Health Organization (WHO), cautioning that increasing resistance to essential antibiotics poses a growing threat to public health systems globally - especially in countries least equipped to handle it.

With 62 months left to deliver on #endTB and #endAIDS goals, SAARC TB and HIV/AIDS Centre making a difference

Tobacco vendor licensing plugs the loopholes in implementing lifesaving health laws

Before the intergovernmental global tobacco treaty meet opens next month, experts call for tobacco vendor licensing so that governments can enforce lifesaving tobacco control policies effectively, protect children and youth from misleading tobacco industry tactics and lies, and progress towards ending tobacco use. “No one must suffer from tobacco-related diseases or die of them,” rightly said Dr Tara Singh Bam, noted global health expert and Asia Pacific Director (Tobacco Control) of Vital Strategies.

[हिंदी] It was shocking to see that United States of America (USA) took a position against most other nations and went ahead to “torpedo” the draft political declaration that was about to be adopted with consensus at the 80th United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health.

[Watch the recording] Join us on 10th October 2025 (Friday) in SHE & Rights session ahead of the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP 2025) in Bogota, Colombia, on the theme: "It is time for accountability and action after UNGA High Level Meeting around Beijing+30."

Bringing health and wellbeing services closer to the communities helps breaking barriers they face in accessing them. With this driving intent, few important promising initiatives were spearheaded by the Indian government this fortnight.

Artificial intelligence is not only for the rich and famous but it is also deployed in health technologies to serve the poorest of the poor and marginalised communities – with equity and human dignity.

[video] Ground Zero: Kangra #EndTB leader Dr RK Sood walks the talk to #FindAllTB → #TreatAllTB → #PreventAllTB

Will 80th UNGA theme of #BetterTogether unite all world leaders on safe abortion rights?

"Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights" is the theme of 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Would it unite world leaders to stop anti-rights and anti-gender pushbacks and deliver on the promises of gender equality and human right to health - where no one is left behind - is yet to be seen.

Call for stronger response in Asia Pacific which is home to half of global AMR burden

Asia Pacific Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance 2025 opens in Indonesia

Asia Pacific Regional Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) 2025 opened in Jakarta, Indonesia on the theme: "From Declaration to Action: Operationalizing One-Health AMR Action in the Asia-Pacific Region."

“Access to abortion is a human rights issue” says UN SR on Right To Health

“Sexual and reproductive health rights are an integral element of the right to health. Yet we know when we are speaking specifically about abortion care, that obstacles exist. They are interrelated and entrenched and operate at different levels in clinical care, at the level of health systems and in the underlying determinants of health. Abortion is health care. Access to abortion is a human rights issue. Full stop.” These are the words of Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Right To Health, who gave an opening address at SHE & Rights Anniversary Special session ahead of 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Contraception Day (26 September) and Safe Abortion Day (28 September).

[video] Abortion rights are human rights

80th UNGA must act to stop regressive pushbacks against health and gender

By committing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 2015), all government leaders had promised health and wellbeing (SDG-3) and gender equality (SDG-5) by 2030 “where no one is left behind.” Two-third along the way in 2025, writing on the wall is clear: promises are not being kept.

Will Nepal's leadership on health spur more action on SDG-3 globally?

Nepal has demonstrated commendable progress on a range of health indices, despite myriads of challenges. Nepal is among the least developed countries currently, but due to its sustained and growing progress on a range of sustainable development indices, it is all set to do away with this tag in 2026.

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[Watch the recording] Ahead of International Safe Abortion Day (28 September) and World Contraception Day (26 September), SHE & Rights session on 5th September 2025, Friday, would be held on the theme: "Abortion rights are human rights."

[हिंदी] How many healthcare facilities have sign language or braille interpretation, ramps or other acutely needed support for people with different forms of disabilities? Even health awareness and disease prevention campaigns are seldom in sign language, braille or visual communication medium, says Nishant Kumar, Coordinator of Y-PEER Nepal and Member, Working Group on Disabilities and 2030 Agenda.

Will world leaders at UNGA act on urgent interconnected threats posed by NCDs and AMR?

World leaders will meet at the upcoming 80th United Nations General Assembly and UN High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) next month. But would they take stronger action to prevent NCDs and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is yet to be seen. The draft text that would be up for their discussion next month is sadly weak and disappointing given the threat NCDs (and AMR) poses to global health and SDGs.

Watch the recording

[Watch the recording] Governments committed to deliver on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. As we cross the two-thirds mark this year on the road towards delivering on Agenda 2030, let us review where are we on the promises of gender equality and human right to health.

"In the Rohingya refugee communities, especially with whom I work, the progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-3 (health and wellbeing) and SDG-5 (gender equality) has been deeply uneven and fragile - there have been small but significant steps forward," said Noor Fatima, Specialist in Education Policy and Equity, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network.

[watch the recording] When misuse and overuse of medicines is making infections difficult or impossible to treat, then are not all of us at risk? rightly asks Bhakti Chavan, a survivor of extensively drug-resistant TB or XDR-TB (one of the severest forms of TB which has very limited treatment options) and a member of World Health Organization (WHO) Task Force of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Survivors.

[video] Antimicrobial resistance: The silent pandemic - let media break the silence

Not capitalist but economically, socially and ecologically just order can deliver on SDGs

"Anti-rights and anti-gender pushes are driven by political, patriarchal, conservative, and religious bodies that frame wrong understandings of gender as a ‘threat to the social good’. They make it (wrongly) seem that any progressive position on justice- whether it is social, racial, gender, sexual, economic, disability, climate, or ecological- is threatening and destructive to the so-called 'dominant global order.' But we, particularly those of us in the Global South, have to understand it very clearly that this global order is white supremacist, capitalist, and patriarchal, that sustains itself through division, fear-mongering, and the wrong beliefs that ‘a market will fix anything and will fix everything.’ And we know that it does not”, said Dr Angelique V Nixon.

[हिंदी] Despite having science-based tools for HIV combination prevention, there were 1.3 million people who got newly diagnosed with HIV in 2023 - and also in 2024 - hardly any decline between the two years. Despite having lifesaving antiretroviral therapy to help every person living with HIV healthy and well (and virally suppressed - which also ensures there is zero risk of HIV transmission because treatment works as prevention), 630,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2023 - and also in 2024 - hardly any decline between the two years. We clearly need a prevention revolution to drastically bring down new HIV infections as well as a lot more needs to be done to reduce AIDS-related deaths. 'Business as usual' is clearly not an option.

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Ahead of International Youth Day and International Day of World's Indigenous Peoples, and in lead up to UN General Assembly where SDG-3 and SDG-5 both are under review this year, be welcome to join us in SHE & Rights session on the theme: "SDG-3 and SDG-5 under youth lens."

Youth-led, rights-based and gender transformative HIV response is key. “Community-led programmes are lifelines of the HIV response, reaching those most in need. As international aid shrinks, these lifelines are the first to disappear. We must protect them,” said UNAIDS. One such lifeline is youth-led programmes for HIV prevention and treatment. We need to protect it.

The irony of current times is that despite the writing on the wall "health is a fundamental human right," the ground reality cannot be farther from the truth. Over 70% people die of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - a significant number of them are preventable. An infectious disease like TB, which is preventable and curable, continues to be the deadliest infectious disease worldwide - especially in the Global South. When HIV combination prevention should be a reality, along with treatment as prevention, over 630,000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2024 - and 1.3 million were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2024 (hardly any change when compared with 2023 data). If every life matters, then why is A for accountability, missing from global health?

Remove systemic blockers to enable access for women to economic and labour markets

Unless we remove systemic discrimination, disadvantages and patriarchal barriers, how would we ensure that women and gender diverse peoples in all their diversities are equitably and justly able to access economic markets and labour markets? Economic justice is critical cog-in-the-wheel for development justice.

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