WHA78 Side Event: Delivering on UHC in an era of pushback against gender equality and human right to health

 

Welcome to hybrid Side Event around 78th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 22nd May, 3:30pm Geneva/ CEST time (90 minutes duration) on the theme: "Delivering on UHC in an era of pushback against gender equality and human right to health."

This Side Event will also include SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights) Media Awards Ceremony 2024-2025.

To join in-person:
Venue: Salle Nyon, WHA78 Civil Society Networking Space, 9–11 Rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland

To join online:


Speakers:
  • Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Right to Health
  • Nazneen Damji, Chief, a.i. Governance and Participation Section; and Senior Policy Advisor, Gender Equality, HIV and Health, UN Women [video]
  • Fadekemi Akinfaderin, Chief Global Advocacy Officer, Fos Feminista (International Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice)
  • Dr Eliezer Lappots-Abreu, Executive Director, Health Horizons International, Dominican Republic
  • Dr Harjyot Khosa, Senior Technical Advisor, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and member of Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC 2030
  • Baba Aye, Health and Social Services Officer, Public Services International (PSI)
  • Parwen (lesbian partner who is now in Iran and her lover Maryam arrested by Taliban) and Nemat (first gay person who came out open in Afghanistan) [video]
  • Rachel Adau, Executive Director, Women Empowerment Centre South Sudan [video]
  • Maya Ranavare, President, Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy [video]
  • Daxa Patel, National Coalition of People living with HIV in India [video]
  • Debanjana Choudhuri, Executive Director, Women's Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) [video]
  • Dr David Parirenyatwa, Senator and former Health Minister, Zimbabwe & President ICASA 2025
  • Kelcey Armstrong-Walenczak and Biruk Tewedros, Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI) [moderator]
  • Shobha Shukla – CNS [moderator]

This WHA78 Side Event is organised by Global Center for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI) and CNS.

Co-hosts include: International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2025 Ghana), Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR), The Legal Caravan Kenya and Fos Feminista (International Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights and Justice).

For any further information, please reach out to: Shobha Shukla, SHE & Rights coordinator | Email: editor@citizen-news.org