KAS UNITE WHO Dialogue Boosts Women's and Global Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed a delegation of parliamentarians to its headquarters in Geneva on January 20, 2026, for a high-level dialogue focused on advancing women's health, strengthening sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), addressing the increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and discussing the future of global health cooperation.

Convened by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, this exchange gathered parliamentarians from Albania, Germany, Georgia, Mexico, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, and Zimbabwe.

A central theme throughout the dialogue was the necessity to transition away from fragmented approaches to women's health. Dr. Alia El-Yassir, WHO Director for Gender, Equity and Diversity, emphasized that women’s health outcomes are influenced by gender inequalities, social norms, and structural barriers that persist throughout their lives. This situation calls for coordinated and integrated actions across health systems to effectively address these determinants.

Thirty years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a landmark global framework adopted in 1995 to advance gender equality and women’s rights—Dr. Anna Coates, WHO Gender Equality Technical Lead, noted that progress on women’s health remains uneven globally. She highlighted the need for health systems that are more gender-responsive and capable of addressing women’s health holistically across the life course.

Parliamentarians emphasized that health is inherently connected to broader social and economic policies, urging for stronger connections between evidence, legislation, and measurable impacts at the national level.

The dialogue also centered on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), with parliamentarians demonstrating keen interest in addressing issues that have a direct impact on 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 sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). She emphasized how health needs evolve from birth into old age and how these needs are influenced by broader factors, including social determinants, humanitarian crises, and changing demographic trends.

Dr. Allotey highlighted the vital role of parliamentarians in promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and emphasized the importance of ongoing collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Human Reproduction Programme to facilitate evidence-based policy development.

The agenda underscored cancer as a growing priority for women’s health and health system sustainability. Dr. Prebo Barango, Lead for the Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative, Dr. Meghan Doherty, a consultant for palliative care, and Mr. Santiago Milan, Lead for the WHO Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicine, presented the Organization’s integrated approach to cancer control. They detailed global progress in prevention, screening, access to essential medicines, and palliative care, including initiatives targeting cervical, breast, and childhood cancers.

The discussion emphasized the necessity for ongoing political commitment and domestic investment to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Parliamentarians exchanged national experiences that demonstrated the extensive social and economic effects of cancer on families and caregivers, underscoring the significance of enhancing health literacy, reducing stigma, and providing people-centered care.

The dialogue also touched upon the state of global multilateralism. Dr. Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Care, articulated how the WHO has made significant strides in restructuring and realignment to improve its efficiency, impact, and ability to assist countries. He reiterated WHO's commitment to engaging more systematically with parliaments, acknowledging their crucial role in shaping health policy, legislation, and budgetary decisions.

The dialogue reflected a shared understanding that improving women’s health requires political leadership, sustained investment, and effective multilateral institutions. The exchange concluded with a shared call for continued collaboration, including partnerships with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) and the UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, building on ongoing parliamentary engagement efforts and in preparation for the upcoming UNITE Global Summit 2026 taking place on March 6-7 in Manila, Philippines.