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."

Conflicts and crises intensify the need for gender equality and health equity

[हिंदी] Conflicts and humanitarian crises significantly exacerbate pre-existing gender inequalities for women, girls and gender diverse populations, leading to increased vulnerability to sexual and gender-based violence, reproductive health complications, and mental health challenges, alongside reduced access to basic needs like healthcare and shelter and livelihoods.

[video] Message | Dr BB Rewari who played a defining role in shaping India's rollout of lifesaving HIV medicines

On May Day, stand with striking community health workers across Asia Pacific

Public service workers from Kerala to Aotearoa demand dignity, fair pay, and labour rights

This May Day, Public Services International calls on unions, allies, and the public across the Asia-Pacific to stand in solidarity with the region’s most vital yet undervalued workers — community health workers. From India’s frontline ASHA workers to New Zealand’s home support workforce, thousands are rising up against exploitation and demanding the recognition and respect they deserve.

Health equity and inclusion remain fundamental to #endMalaria

Governments have promised to end malaria by 2030. With around five and a half years left to eliminate the vector-borne disease worldwide, it is alarming that progress is off the mark. More worrying is that whatever progress has happened towards ending malaria, can be reversed. Without adequate science-backed and strategic investments and actions, how will countries that have ended malaria, keep the burden below the elimination levels? Climate change worsens the crisis as disease patterns shift.

[video] Inclusion and equity must be central to #EndMalaria and #HealthForAll efforts

We cannot turn a blind eye to preventable epidemics if we are to deliver on SDGs

The epidemic-proportion diseases and untimely deaths caused by tobacco use are entirely preventable. Likewise, we have science-based tools and approaches to find all TB cases, treat all of them and prevent transmission of the disease. When even one TB or tobacco death is a death too many, how can one explain 1.25 million TB deaths and over 8 million tobacco-related deaths in 2023 alone? How can TB disease, that is entirely preventable (and curable), become the deadliest infectious disease worldwide?

SHE & Rights | Impact on gender justice and health during conflicts or other humanitarian crises


The seventh session of SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity & Rights) will be organised on the theme: "Impact on gender justice and health during conflicts or other humanitarian crises." It will also feature highlights of The Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health report released earlier this month.

Gender justice and health equity are inextricably linked but are programmes linked?

The Lancet Commission on Gender and Global Health launched a new report in April 2025 on "achieving gender justice for global health equity" in Delhi, India. The report reflects how a lack of understanding of the link between gender and health is negatively affecting health outcomes.

Will all children be born free of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis-B by 2030?

[हिंदी] Despite knowing how to prevent vertical transmission (from mother to the baby) of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis-B infections, we are failing with every child who is born with either of these preventable infections. We have the science-backed tools to ensure that all children are born free of these three infections. Failing to deploy them with utmost effectiveness is highly unacceptable.

Half of women cannot make decisions about their reproductive health and bodily autonomy

In the lead up to 2025 World Health Day, it is important for us to review why almost half of women are not able to make decisions pertaining to their own reproductive health and bodily autonomy.

Is long-acting HIV treatment as good as taking daily pills?

(L to R) Dr Ishwar Gilada, Dr Jurgen Rockstroh, Gujarat CM B Patel

Treatment for people living with HIV (antiretroviral therapy) is lifesaving and revolutionary as it has made HIV akin to any other chronic disease. It has been proven that those who are on treatment and remain virally suppressed, live healthy and normal lifespans - comparable to those without the virus – and there is zero risk of any further HIV transmission from them.

[video] CSW69 | Are we on track on gender equality and human right to health?

Right to safe abortion cannot be dislocated from human rights

[हिंदी] Abortion is a human right. Yet, abortion-related stigma - rooted in patriarchy, misinformation, and control - continues to restrict access, fuel legal persecution, and force people into unsafe conditions in several countries. This Global Day of Action to Destigmatise Abortion, there is a stronger call for an end to criminalisation, medical gatekeeping, and harmful cultural narratives that shame and silence people who undergo abortions.

Catapulting funding crisis into opportunity by getting on track to end TB and tobacco use

The funding crises forced upon by the US government on several low- and middle-income countries is an opportunity in disguise to improve programme efficiency and outcome and invest optimally in health and development responses from domestic coffers.

How can we leave those behind who are at higher TB risk?

A female migrant worker who lives in an urban slum in India’s national capital Delhi lost both her children to TB. When the best of standard TB diagnostics and latest treatments are available (and also made in India), even one TB death is a death too many. Over 1.25 million people died of TB worldwide in 2023, as per the latest WHO Global TB Report 2024. Every TB death is a reminder that we could have done better to prevent, find, treat TB and support those dealing with the disease.

Danger of substandard and falsified medical products is real and growing

[watch AMR Dialogues] [हिंदी] In 2017, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), "A study on the public health and socioeconomic impact of substandard and falsified medical products," showed that 10% of medical products in low- and middle-income countries were substandard or falsified, indicating substantial under-recording and a much larger problem confronting us.

CSW69 side event: Are we on track to deliver on gender equality & human right to health?


#CSW69 Side Event panel discussion on "Are we on the right track to deliver on gender equality and human right to health?" will be held on 18th March 2025.
  • In-Person participants, scan QR code to register or click here
    • Venue: Stimson room at the NY Bar Association, 42 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036. USA.